MO3.01/09 - Provision of assistance related to the first cooperation steps for developing & strengthening the capabilities of the Moroccan NRA and its TSO

The main objective of this project is the development and/or strengthening of the managerial and technical capabilities of the new Regulatory Body and its Technical Support Organisation. in Morocco by,

• Establishment/development of an Action Plan for cooperation in the field of capacity building for the enhancement of NRA including an overview of the present situation
• Support in the establishment of an independent regulatory body based on the existing infrastructure
• Assistance in the field of regulatory framework
• Strengthening and enhancing professional knowledge of the Regulatory Body and its TSO
• establishing and implementing a public information policy

In September 2001, the government of Morocco had signed an agreement with the United States establishing the legal basis for constructing a research reactor in Morocco. The 2 MW Triga Mark II reactor was critical in the second semester of 2008 and licensed in January 2009 for operation. The development of 1 or 2 Nuclear Power Plants (NPP) was also envisaged, starting 2020-2030. Further, Morocco is one of the largest phosphate mines in the world, and plans for uranium mining from the waste stream of the phosphate mines were being considered.
As part of the effort made by Morocco to consolidate and strengthen its legal infrastructure, basic legislation has been drafted with the assistance of IAEA experts and in conformity with Morocco’s international undertakings. The examination and finalisation of these texts is being carried out by the Nuclear Regulation Commission which reports to the National Nuclear Energy Council.
This Nuclear and Radiological Safety and Security Law, foresees the creation of a new unique and independent Nuclear Regulatory Authority. The law was in the final legislative procedure with finalisation is planned most likely the end of 2010.
The main motivation for the project was the decision to create a new Moroccan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NRA). The objective of the project was to support the promotion of a high level of nuclear safety and radiation protection in Morocco and to strengthen the organisational, technical and management capability of the new nuclear regulatory authority.

The overall objective of this project was to support the promotion of a high level of nuclear safety and radiation protection in Morocco and to strengthen the organisational, technical and management capability of the new nuclear regulatory authority.
The project had the following specific objectives:
• Establishment/development of an Action Plan for cooperation in the field of capacity building for the enhancement of NRA including an overview of the present situation
• Support in the establishment of an independent regulatory body based on the existing infrastructure
• Assistance in the field of regulatory framework
• Strengthening and enhancing professional knowledge of the Regulatory Body and its TSO
• Establishing and implementing a public information policy

The results of the project tasks are briefly summarised below.
TASK 1: ESTABLISHMENT/DEVELOPMENT OF AN ACTION PLAN FOR COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF CAPACITY BUILDING FOR THE ENHANCEMENT OF NRA INCLUDING AN OVERVIEW OF THE PRESENT SITUATION
The task was provided assistance in development of three plans: a Strategy Plan, an Action Plan, and a Cooperation Plan. The existing documents were analysed based on European documents regarding the general organisation and staffing of a NRA. The need to clarify the steps of an independent and effective regulatory body was highlighted.
The draft Strategic Plan of the future Moroccan NRA was reviewed step by step. The strategic objectives were: 1) To become an independent, competent, credible and efficient NRA; 2) Enhance the professional knowledge and skills of its staff; 3) Develop the regulatory framework required for the implementation of the laws; 4) Work with the relevant stakeholders to develop/strengthen the national infrastructure for nuclear security and emergency preparedness and response; and 5) Communicate with the public.
The current draft Action Plan was reviewed in order to identify priorities, concrete actions to be taken to ensure the transition phase after the promulgation of the law and creation of the new NRA. Among the actions, the priorities were:
• Action to establish an independent, competent, credible and efficient NRA;
• Actions to enhance the professional knowledge and skills of its staff;
• Actions to develop the regulatory framework required for the implementation of the laws;
• Work with the relevant stakeholders to develop/strengthen the national infrastructure for nuclear security and emergency preparedness and response.
A Cooperation Plan was also developed, based on discussion on the key values of the regulatory body (i.e. competence, transparency, independence and rigour in order to gain credibility and trust). In this context, the needs in terms of training have been presented and discussed.
TASK 2: SUPPORT IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INDEPENDENT REGULATORY BODY BASED ON THE EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE
The task resulted in issuing an “Organisation report”, and a “Management system report” for the support of the new NRA, with number of recommendations.
The “Organisation report” describes new Moroccan NRA organisation and duties, including the proposed organisational chart, the required profiles, skills and qualifications for all positions and the interaction with the other stakeholders, as well as the necessary technical means for effective execution of the regulatory body tasks.
The “Management system report” contains recommendations for the development of a management system, including quality management system and effectiveness analysis.
TASK 3: ASSISTANCE IN THE FIELD OF REGULATORY FRAMEWORK In this task, outlines (fiches) were prepared with the description of legal documents on five issues: nuclear safety, radiation protection, transport of radioactive or nuclear material, radioactive waste management, and emergency preparedness. These five outlines include the following information: general description of the legal document; field of application; contents; regulatory description; and international references.
The EU experts together with the different teams of Moroccan counterparts reviewed and analysed in depth the content of these fiches that will be the basis for developing additional regulations.
TASK 4: STRENGTHENING AND ENHANCING PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE REGULATORY BODY AND ITS TSO
This task was implemented through five training session in Morocco on following topics: radiation protection, nuclear safety, emergency preparedness & response, waste management, and safety of transports of radioactive materials. The training sessions allowed the participating experts to enhance their knowledge and capabilities in these fields. European regulatory framework, European standards and guides and best practices and know-how in the European countries were presented and their technical foundations were explained in detail. During the trainings, more than one hundred presentations and documents were distributed to the participants. This constitutes a large database of presentations that the participants could use to train other Moroccan engineers. In each field, Moroccan experts have a list of European experts who in the future can help them in various technical subjects related to the new NRA activities.
TASK 5: ESTABLISHING AND IMPLEMENTING A PUBLIC INFORMATION POLICY
Two workshops were held in this task. The first workshop provided general information on public information (e.g. websites, publications, press releases) in EU NRA, based on EU experts’ presentations and on fruitful discussions. Between the two workshops EU experts prepared a draft for communication guidelines and planning for the new NRA, to be complemented by the Moroccan counterparts for their own needs. The second workshop was dedicated to develop public communication planning. The document “Communication Guidelines and Planning, Recommendations from EU experts” was discussed and developed to meet the circumstances of Morocco and its future authority.