With each passing year, the role played by nuclear technologies in the lives of researchers, clinical patients, medical technicians and healthcare end-users grows. Yet, despite the social benefits which come with their use, radioactive materials generate waste and other by-products whenever they're deployed in nuclear technology. Fortunately, proven technical approaches exist to address all radioactive waste, whether it's produced while processing uranium-bearing ore, calibrating medical equipment or treating patients. As part of the IAEA's statutory mandate to establish standards of safety, the Agency is working with the European Commission to strengthen the existing policy frameworks in the area of radioactive waste management.
Waste management forms an indispensable cornerstone of nuclear safety-when a country acquires and begins deploying nuclear technologies, it's imperative that a corresponding waste management programme is introduced. In principle, countries should have a national policy and a technical capacity for waste management-the former elaborates rules and standards, while the latter ensures proper implementation. However, in many Member States, radioactive waste is not organized or disposed of in the appropriate, systematic manner.
With the financial support of the European Commission, the technical cooperation (TC) programme is taking steps to help strengthen the framework for waste management among IAEA Member States in two regions, Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean.
Designated RLA/9/068, and building atop the achievements of RLA/9/062, the Latin American regional project draws on the support of 22 countries with the aim of fortifying regional controls of disused radioactive sources, principally from medical applications. Although the quantity of waste generated by the participating countries is relatively small, its adequate management and control should always be guaranteed.
Three activities formed the basis of RLA/9/068, namely: Developing national policies and strategies for the management of radioactive waste; capacity building for waste management staff in safety assessments, licensing and control activities; and building compliance with the IAEA International Basic Safety Standards.
The users, the public and the environment are all markedly safer from the risks associated with the mismanagement of radioactive waste, largely due to the assistance and support received within the framework of regional projects RLA/9/068 and RLA/9/062.
A follow-up project is further expanding the work conducted under prior regional projects by implementing a new approach. Benefitting from robust European Commission support, RLA/9/078 will ensure synergy between security and technology, by engaging the regulatory authorities, operators and decision-makers in the project.
The European Commission is also supporting similar work in the African region by jointly-financing RAF/9/054, a regional TC project conducted under the auspices of the African Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research, Development and Training related to Nuclear Science and Technology (AFRA). Resources were first mobilized by the IAEA to address waste in Africa in 1996, with the inauguration of RAF/4/015, which sought to strengthen the necessary legal frameworks and technical capacities. Since then, a number of technical cooperation projects have developed solid waste management capabilities in many African Member States. However technical gaps and needs still exist in the region.
With the participation of 28 African Member States, this new EC-supported project RAF/9/054 will mainly focus on practical hands-on training in radioactive waste management as requested by all the participating countries. Further objectives are to assist these States in improving waste inventories and related regulations strategies and to condition their spent sealed sources. To that effect, the project will implement Hands on training activities focussing on collection, transportation conditioning and storage of low level radioactive sources. It is expected that this project will support the region in establishing adequate regional training centres and curriculum in radioactive waste management. Through mutual support, the IAEA and the European Commission are able to not only build and strengthen waste management regimes around the world, but are in a position to sustain the progress made in the discipline, and share the dividends of increased safety on a regional basis.
| Projects RLA/9/062, RLA/9/068, RLA/9/078 and RAF/9/054 are carried out with funding from the European Union |
