IAEA Mission Says Egypt is Committed to Strengthening its National Regulatory Framework for Safety

An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of experts said Egypt demonstrates a strong commitment to nuclear and radiation safety. The team also encouraged further regulatory improvements, including updating Egypt's national policy and strategy for nuclear and radiation safety to align more closely with IAEA safety standards.

The Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) team concluded a 12-day mission to Egypt on 24 June-the first such IAEA mission to the country. Conducted at the request of the Government of Egypt and hosted by the Egyptian Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Authority (ENRRA) and the Executive Office for Radiation Protection (EORP) of the Ministry of Health and Population, the mission assessed Egypt's regulatory framework for safety against IAEA safety standards.

Using IAEA safety standards and international good practices, IRRS missions are designed to strengthen the effectiveness of the national regulatory infrastructure, while recognizing the responsibility of each country to ensure safety.

Egypt currently has one nuclear power plant, El-Dabaa, under construction since 2022, and two research reactors - Experimental Training Research Reactor Number one (ETRR-1) and two (ETRR-2). In addition, radiation sources are used in medicine, research and industry.

The 20-member IRRS team comprised experts from Australia, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Pakistan, Portugal, Romania, South Africa, Sudan and the United Kingdom, as well as three IAEA staff members.

During the mission, IRRS team members reviewed national legislation related to nuclear safety and security as well as regulations, policies and procedures of the regulatory bodies, and held interviews and discussions with representatives from ENRRA and the EORP. Team members also observed regulatory inspections at four sites: the El-Dabaa nuclear power plant construction site; ETRR-2; the 57357 Children's Cancer Hospital; and The Petroleum Projects and Technical Consultations Company (PETROJET, an industrial facility).

The IRRS team concluded that Egypt has a comprehensive and robust regulatory framework for nuclear and radiation safety covering all facilities and activities.

"Egypt has a comprehensive regulatory infrastructure for nuclear and radiation safety. As the country embarks on a nuclear power programme, it is important that ENRRA should continue enhancing regulatory oversight during the construction stages, commissioning and operation of El-Dabaa NPP," said Zia H. Shah, Chairman, Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority and team leader of the mission. "We recommend that Egypt further improve its radiation protection framework, especially in the medical sector."

The IRRS team identified a number of areas of good performance, including:

• Ensuring the availability of competent personnel needed for current and future regulatory activities through competence management mapping, providing management with a comprehensive understanding of organizational capabilities and supporting targeted workforce development;
• The establishment and implementation of the Amnesty Recovery Programme for Radioactive Sealed Sources;
• The effective implementation of ENRRA's programme for incorporating lessons learned from international experience in nuclear and radiation safety; and
• An effective framework for maintaining radiological situational awareness and supporting national emergency response activities, including through the integration of monitoring networks, emergency response resources, mobile field capabilities and laboratory support.

The team also provided recommendations and suggestions to further enhance the regulatory framework, including:

• Updating the legislative framework for nuclear safety to better align with IAEA safety standards;
• Streamlining the licensing framework for clarity and consistency;
• Applying a graded approach to authorization, including registration of facilities and activities; and
• Expanding the national radioactive waste and spent fuel strategy to cover all facilities.

"This mission is of paramount importance for Egypt as we continuously expand and refine our national regulatory framework," said Dr Hany Khedr, ENRRA Chairman. "It serves as a vital benchmark to assess the alignment of our regulatory practices with IAEA safety standards and international best practices. This peer review provides us with an objective, global perspective on our regulatory framework, ensuring that our national infrastructure remains robust, effective, and fully aligned with the highest international standards."

The final mission report will be provided to the Government in about three months.

IAEA Safety Standards

The IAEA Safety Standards provide a robust framework of fundamental principles, requirements and guidance to ensure safety. They reflect an international consensus and serve as a global reference for protecting people and the environment from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation.