Establishing the Independent, Effective Regulatory Authority … · Establishing the Independent, Effective Regulatory Authority in the United Arab ... Staffing and Competence ...

Establishing the Independent, Effective

Regulatory Authority in the United Arab

Emirates

Ian GrantDirector of Nuclear Safety

Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation

Presentation Outline

• The Nuclear Energy Policy of the UAE

• International Commitments and Cooperation

• The Nuclear Law

• FANR

• Regulations and Guides

• Licensing the First NPP in the UAE

• Inspection and enforcement

• Conclusion

2

Abu Dhabi Development

3

UAE Policy on the Evaluation and

Potential Development of Peaceful

Nuclear Energy

• Complete operational

transparency

• Highest standards of non-

proliferation

• Highest standards of safety

and security

• Close cooperation with the

IAEA

• Partnership with governments

and firms of responsible

nations

• Long-term sustainability

4

Programme Launch

• Abu Dhabi Executive Affairs Authority acted as

“Nuclear Energy Programme Implementation

Organisation”

• Developed comprehensive roadmap for programme

implementation based on IAEA recommendations

• Fostered infant regulatory body

and operator

5

International Commitments

• Convention on Nuclear Safety

• Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent

Fuel Management and the Safety of

Radioactive Waste Management

• Conventions on Notification and Mutual

Assistance

• Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for

Nuclear Damage

• Convention on the Physical Protection

of Nuclear Material

• Comprehensive safeguards agreement

with the IAEA

• Additional protocol to the safeguards

agreement6

The UAE concluded all relevant international agreements:

Cooperation with International

Atomic Energy Agency

• Implementation of safety, security,

safeguards instruments

• Use of IAEA guidance

– Milestones in the Development of a

National Nuclear Infrastructure

– Safety Requirements

– Security Guides

• Technical Cooperation Programme

– Workshops, training, technical

assistance

• Peer review and expert missions

– INIR, IRRS, siting review…7

Nuclear Law:

Federal Law by Decree No 6 of 2009

Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy

• Legal framework for Safety, Security, Safeguards in the

Nuclear Sector, which includes:

– nuclear facilities; and

– regulated material (radioactive material / radiation

generators)

• Article (2) invokes the Nuclear Policy and gives

priority to Safety, Nuclear Safety, Nuclear Security,

Radiation Protection (IAEA definitions), Safeguards

8

Provisions of UAE Nuclear Law

• Establishment of FANR and its objectives

• Management of FANR

• Financial affairs of FANR

• Licences

• Inspection and Control

• Regulations and Guidelines

• Safeguards

• Radioactive Waste and Decommissioning

• Management of Safety

• Physical Protection

• Emergency Preparedness and Response9

National Allocation of Responsibilities

• Conduct of Regulated Activities prohibited without a

Licence from FANR

– FANR exclusively responsible for licensing

• Other agencies have relevant responsibilities: health,

environment, emergency preparedness, customs, etc.

– Article 7 of Nuclear Law requires FANR to cooperate with,

provide information to and advise other agencies

– MOUs in place or under negotiation

– Radiation Protection Committee includes other agencies as

members

10

Independence of Regulatory Body

• Nuclear Law establishes FANR as an independent legal

personality with “full legal competence and financial

and administrative independence”

– States that FANR shall determine all matters re. control &

supervision of Nuclear Sector to ensure Safety

• Fully separate from interests in Nuclear Sector

– Board Members prohibited from Regulated Activity, direct or

indirect

– Government reporting only via Annual Report to Minister for

Presidential affairs

11

FANR Functions and Responsibilities

• FANR functions and responsibilities according to the

Nuclear Law include:– Issue regulations for safety, security and safeguards

– Issue licenses to conduct regulated activities

– Carry out safety assessments

– Implement an inspection and control regime

– Establish and maintain a state system of accounting for and

control of nuclear material

– Establish frameworks for physical protection and emergency

preparedness and response for nuclear facilities and activities

– Determine civil and criminal penalties

12

FANR Organisation

13

Staffing and Competence

• Two tracks

– Staffing by senior expatriate staff to deal with short-medium

term needs

– HR development to ensure FANR long-term sustainability

• Currently strong cadre of experienced professionals in

nuclear safety and radiation protection

– 158 employees

• Recruitment of younger Emiratis

– Formal education and training

– Mentoring for development

• Role of knowledge management

14

Current Total UAE Nationals: 86

Distribution: 42 in Operations, 44 in Administration

Emiratization

UAE

54%

EXPAT

46%

FANR Emiratization %

UAE

72%

EXPAT

28%

ADMIN DIVISION

UAE

42%

EXPAT

58%

OPERATIONS DIVISION

15

Management System of the

Regulatory Body

• FANR’s Integrated Management System

– Follows GS-R-3

– IMS Manual with signed commitment of senior management

– Processes: Management, Core, Support

– Procedures and Work Instructions etc.

• IMS Committee (Department Directors) meets

regularly chaired by DDG

• Self assessment carried out

16

Regulations

• Nuclear Law:

– FANR Board may issue regulations specifying

requirements which all operators must comply

with and follow

– FANR to consider:

• Comments from stakeholders

• Information made available by experts

• Internationally recognised standards and

recommendations such as IAEA Safety Standards

• Regulations Process in IMS

– Two rounds of consultation: government

stakeholder and public 17

FANR Regulations Issued

• REG-01 Management Systems for Nuclear Facilities

• REG-02 Siting of Nuclear Facilities

• REG-03 Design of Nuclear Power Plants

• REG-04 Radiation Dose Limits & Optimisation of Radiation Protection for Nuclear

Facilities

• REG-05 Application of Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA) at Nuclear Facilities

• REG-06 Application for a License to Construct a Nuclear Facility

• REG-08 Physical Protection for Nuclear Materials and Nuclear Facilities

• REG-10 System of Accounting for and Control of Nuclear Material and Application of

Additional Protocol

• REG-11 Radiation Protection and Predisposal Radioactive Waste Management for

Nuclear Facilities

• REG-12 Emergency Preparedness for Nuclear Facilities

• REG-13 Safe Transport of Radioactive Materials

• REG-17 Certification of Operating Personnel at NPP Facilities

• REG-23 Security of Radioactive Sources

• REG-24 Basic Safety Standards for Facilities and Activities involving Ionising Radiation

other than in Nuclear Facilities 18

UAE Nuclear Power Plant

• Korean Advanced Power Reactor APR-1400

• Based on proven technology from the USA

• Reference plant at Shin Kori in Korea licensed for

construction

19

Licensing of Nuclear Facilities

• Regulated Activities applying to Nuclear facilities

which require a FANR licence:

– Selection of a site for construction

– Preparation of a site for construction

– Construction

– Commissioning

– Operation

– Closure (or change in closure date)

– Decommissioning

– Modifications having significance for safety

20

Licence Requirements

• Under Articles 26-34 of the Law:

– Applicants must submit detailed evidence of Safety

– FANR to conduct a thorough review and

assessment according to potential magnitude &

nature of hazard

– FANR Board may grant a licence, a conditional

licence, or refuse a licence

– Rejected applicants may seek review of decision

by BoM

21

Current Status of Facility Licensing

• Four licences issued:

– Site Selection Licence

– Site Preparation Licence

– Limited Construction Licence

– Construction Licence for Barakah Units1 & 2

• Application received Feb 2013 for

construction of Barakah Units 3&4

2222

• This licence permitted ENEC to carry out the

regulated activity of selecting a site for a nuclear

facility

• No approval by FANR of a specific site

• ENEC submitted a full technical justification for the

selected site with its construction licence

application

• Work done at the applicant’s risk

2323

Site Selection Licence

Site Preparation Licence

• Allowed activities such as:

– Erection of site security features,

– Establishment of roads and electrical and water

distribution systems,

– Admin office building,

– Dredging of shipping channel,

– Construction of wharf,

– Excavations, etc.

2424

Limited Construction Licence

• Manufacture of “long-lead” components

• Early site civil works

2525

Construction Licence Application

• Photo of PSAR

26

Construction Licence Application

• Application Letter

• Preliminary Safety Analysis Report

– 21 Chapters and supplements and addenda covering Safety,

Security and Safeguards

• Physical Protection Plan for construction

• Preliminary Safeguards Plan

• Preliminary Probabilistic Safety Assessment Report

Summary

• Severe Accident Analysis Report

• Aircraft Impact Analysis Report

27

FANR Licensing Process

• Part of FANR Integrated

Management System

• Governs process:

– Receipt of application

– Technical review

– Preparation of Safety Evaluation Report

– Licensing recommendations to FANR

Board of Management

• Procedures and review instructions

describe details

28

Using Safety Information from

Korea Country of Origin

• FANR used safety evaluations by Korean regulatory

body to support review of the construction licence

application in the UAE

• FANR conducted independent review where:

– UAE requirements could not be shown to be based on the

regulatory body’s assessment

– The proposed UAE design differed from that approved by the

other regulatory body

– Site characteristics specific to the UAE

– New operating experience since other regulatory body’s

approval

• Review plan identified review categories 29

Technical Support

Organisations Approach

• FANR engaged three TSOs in the US and Europe to

support review and assessment of CLA by augmenting

in-house resources

• FANR provided alignment and direction to TSOs

ensuring consistency across the CLA review

• FANR retains responsibility for regulatory decisions,

through its in-house team of seasoned staff

30

Fukushima Impact on Safety

• ENEC submitted a detailed safety

assessment of lessons learned to FANR in

December 2011

• FANR found that the design in combination

with proposed safety improvements

provides substantial margin to ensure that

a multiple-unit plant can cope with and

mitigate the effects of severe but low

probability events

31

Issuance of the U1&2

Construction Licence

• FANR Board of Management decided on 17 July 2012

to issue the licence authorising ENEC to carry out the

construction of units 1&2 and related activities.

• The licence contains conditions

– Compliance with the law, regulations and application

– Fulfilment of commitments

– Reporting of modifications and unplanned events

– Approval of import of components

• Safety Evaluation Report Summary and licence

available on FANR web site

– http://www.fanr.gov.ae/

32

Site progress

33

Inspection

• FANR to carry out a “planned and systematic inspection

programme” (Nuclear Law Art. 32-37)

– enter relevant sites & Facilities

– both announced & unannounced inspections

– immediate inspection on short notice if abnormal occurrence

• Enforcement in event of violation

– FANR empowered to take Enforcement Action to compel

Operator to take corrective actions

– Board may impose administrative penalties & fines

34

Inspection

• Programme Scope:

– ENEC and Prime Contractor

– Major Vendors

– Site Construction

3535

36

Conclusion

• UAE has established a comprehensive legal & regulatory

framework conforming to IAEA standards/guidance to

regulate the nuclear sector

• FANR is a functioning independent nuclear regulator

providing controls on safety, security and non-proliferation

• UAE benefits from strong international support, incl. IAEA

and access to Korean organizations and practices

• Active capacity building programme, human and technical

• Peer reviews show UAE regulatory system aligned with good

international practices

• Long term commitment to develop and maintain safety

culture36

Thank You!

37

www.fanr.gov.ae

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