- Status
- Closed
Background
Armenia operates one nuclear power unit, has one unit in shutdown since 1989 and
uses ionising radiation for industrial and medical purposes. The Medzamor Nuclear
Power Plant Unit 2 (ANPP2) is the only reactor in operation. It is referred to as a
plant with some design deficiencies and is located in a seismic zone. The Armenian
government has repeatedly confirmed its commitment to close this plant in the near
future, provided that a secure alternative energy supply will be available.
Since 1996 the EC has provided support to the Armenian Nuclear Regulatory
Authority ANRA and, since its creation in 2001, to its main TSO, the Nuclear and
Radiation Safety Centre (NRSC), through the TACIS Nuclear Safety Programme.
This project represents the fourth project of transfer of Western European regulatory
methodology and practices to the Nuclear Safety Authority of Armenia. It is
expected that ANRA, with the support of the project, will integrate further Western
methodologies and practices in a number of domains. It is also expected that ANRA
increases its independence from the licensees and makes progress in becoming a
self-sufficient regulator.
Objectives
The project continues supporting and strengthening in Armenia the national nuclear
regulatory system, and in particular improving the organisation and performance of
the Armenian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (ANRA) and its Technical Support
Organisation (NRSC). It contributes to the following wider objectives:
• Supporting the promotion of an effective nuclear safety culture in line with
the principles of the Convention on nuclear safety, in particular through
continuous support for regulatory bodies;
• Improved understanding and further incorporation of Western European
regulatory practices in Armenia.
The specific objectives of this project are the following:
• To improve the role of ANRA in the national nuclear emergency plan;
• To strengthen the foundation and the structure of the regulatory system and
to develop a national pyramid of regulatory documents and some additional
draft regulations or guidelines, depending on the needs;
• To implement adequate training programmes in particular for newcomers;
• To gain sufficient knowledge in PSA level 1 in order to improve the decision
making process.
• To strengthen the role of ANRA in regulatory issues related to
decommissioning;
• To develop licensing process and inspection practices and procedures for the
radioactive sources;
Results
The project consisted of following six technical tasks:
Task 1: Emergency planning and preparedness
Task 2: Preparation and enforcement of regulations
Task 3: Training in nuclear safety, regulatory control and radiation safety
Task 4: Basic training on regulatory review of PSA level 1
Task 5. Regulatory issues of decommissioning
Task 6. Review of licensing and inspection procedures for the radioactive sources
The results of these tasks are briefly summarised below.
TASK 1 EMERGENCY PLANNING AND PREPAREDNESS
An action plan was made for revision 25 emergency procedures, but finally only
three of them were reviewed. Due to ANRA’s internal problems, such as lack of
staff and slow response to the consultant’s efforts, the task could not be completed
as planned. The objectives of the task were only partially achieved.
TASK 2 PREPARATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF REGULATIONS
The main achievements of Task 2 were the detailed examination and comparison
with the EU and international practices of the following aspects of the Armenian
situation:
• Regulatory Pyramid in Armenia;
• Rulemaking procedure in Armenia;
• Radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel management;
• Uranium mining and milling activities;
• Environmental radiation monitoring;
• Regulations related to the obligations stemming from the ratification of the
IAEA
• safeguards agreement and related additional protocol;
• Issues related to the new “Law on the peaceful use of Nuclear energy in the
Republic ofArmenia”
Following four reports were prepared:
• “Synthesis report on the radioactive waste and spent fuel management
regulations in the Republic of Armenia”
• “Synthesis report on the regulatory framework concerning radiation
monitoring and control in the Republic of Armenia”;
• “Comments on State System of Accountancy and Control for Nuclear
Material (SSAC) in the Republic of Armenia”.
• “Examination of a draft version of the Law of the republic of Armenia for
the safe utilization of atomic energy for peaceful purposes”
TASK 3 TRAINING IN NUCLEAR SAFETY, REGULATORY CONTROL AND
RADIATION SAFETY
The task concentrated on:
• development of systematic training programmes for newcomers, based on
job descriptions and on the needed competencies and knowledge,
• establishment of a set of questionnaires related to the training documents,
in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the training of new ANRA/NRSC
staff,
• establishment of a system for refreshment and continued training of
technical experts / specialists, in relation with the needed competencies,
The following documents and practices were developed or strengthened:
• How to perform regulatory training for newcomers
• How to perform competence assessment
• How to perform corresponding administrative arrangements.
TASK 4 BASIC TRAINING ON REGULATORY REVIEW OF PSA LEVEL 1
Regulatory Probabilistic Safety Assessment (PSA) Review Guide was developed for
ANRA. The draft Regulation on PSA (PSA requirements) was also introduced
during the project. The detailed topic-wise requirements are recommended to be
presented at the regulatory review guide level. This guidance should be sent to the
operating organisation for information to show the regulatory review practices of
ANRA.
Training materials for the PSA reviewers were developed. PSA regulation and PSA
review guidance need to be finalised and implemented. Addition of PSA documents
in the ANRA QM Handbook as well as production of training materials will assure
adequate background for PSA models and practices development in Armenia. This
also provides an appropriate base for introduction of risk-informed regulation and
decision making both at the regulatory body and utility.
TASK 5 REGULATORY ISSUES OF DECOMMISSIONING
A review report was prepared on existing guidelines on decommissioning,
comparing the respective practices. The developed document represents a
comprehensive overview about decommissioning of nuclear facilities organisation
and regulations applied for that in three EU countries and can be used also for future
activities planning and implementation in follow up decommissioning related
international projects.
Large amounts of material arising during decommissioning and dismantling
activities can be cleared from regulatory control instead of disposing it off as
radioactive waste. For this it is necessary to prepare and implement several tasks on
the operator as well as on the regulatory side. A draft regulation on clearance
procedure implementation was written in order that this procedure could be widely
used during decommissioning work at a later stage. The draft document was adapted
together with ANRA to the legal and regulatory basis in Armenia, although some
further improvements maybe necessary to be implemented and some adaptations of
existing Armenian regulations should be envisaged in the future. The guiding
document prepared served also as a basis for a comprehensive discussion on this
topic in general and especially during the workshop and can be considered as an
excellent example of knowledge and methodological transfer.
TASK 6 REVIEW OF LICENSING AND INSPECTION PROCEDURES FOR
THE RADIOACTIVE SOURCES
The objectives of task 6 were to advise ANRA how to improve the licensing an
inspection process and to establish appropriate formal procedures which would help
the regulatory to enhance the effectiveness of the regulatory activities.
The objectives were achieved through the organisation of two workshops, where
advice was given for improving important internal and external documents:
1. “Guide for review and assessment of documents submitted to ANRA for
authorization of activities with ionizing radiation sources” is ready to be issued
as an internal standard procedure of ANRA.
2. “Procedure for Licensee reporting on radiation safety to regulatory authority”
was reviewed taking in to account EU experts suggestions and statements of
IAEA TECDOC 1525. The document reflects the needs of ANRA for scope and
format of requested reporting by the licensee to ANRA and is already approved.
The document could serve as a good tool for enhancement of radiation safety
culture in the Republic of Armenia.
3. “Procedure on inspection of atomic energy utilization installations implementing
practices with radiation sources and ionizing radiation generators and of
activities implemented there” reflects the needs of ANRA for the planning,
preparation, organization, conduct, evaluation and follow up the inspections.
The document is mature enough to become one of the “Internal standard
procedures” of ANRA.