The IAEA hosted a virtual workshop with senior officials of the Mali Radiation Protection Agency (AMARAP) and the Ministry for Energy, Mining and Water Resources. Last month’s event, delivered in French, allowed for initial discussions on the IAEA’s written comments on Mali’s legislation, specifically the Ordinance on Radiation Protection and Safety of Radiation Sources (No. 02-059/P-RM of 5 June 2002).
The “workshop provides an important opportunity to evaluate the current legislation considering a comprehensive approach addressing all branches of nuclear law, enabling the country to effectively implement its international legal obligations,” said IAEA Legal Officer Anthony Wetherall, who leads the IAEA Legislative Assistance Programme.
In addition to the Ordinance, the country’s current legal framework includes the Ordinance establishing AMARAP (No. 02-060/P-RM of 6 June 2002), the Decree establishing AMARAP’s structure and functioning (No. 02-333/P-RM of 6 June 2002), and the Decree providing the rules for radiation protection, safety and security of radiation sources (No. 2014-0931/P-RM of 31 December 2014).
“The comments on the Ordinance and our discussions highlight several shortcomings affecting more than one third of the [Ordinance] provisions,” stated Koné Nagatié, Director General of AMARAP stated. “We will now develop a new draft comprehensive nuclear law to be submitted for the Government’s consideration before the end of June. Given the short time available, we therefore greatly appreciate further IAEA bilateral legislative drafting assistance in helping us to realise this objective.”
The IAEA has invited Mali to attend the IAEA Regional Workshop on Nuclear Law for Francophone Member States, 7-10 June 2021. The workshop will address common challenges facing countries in drafting comprehensive national nuclear legislation and will enable the participating States to identify legislative assistance needs over the next two years.
We will now develop a new draft comprehensive nuclear law to be submitted for the Government’s consideration before the end of June. Given the short time available, we therefore greatly appreciate further IAEA bilateral legislative drafting assistance in helping us to realise this objective.
