- Status
- Ongoing
Summary
The project was mainly composed of training activities, online exchanges and technical visits to achieve three specific objectives taking into account the baseline set by an earlier project:
- Improvement of infrastructure rules related to disposal facilities,
- Strengthening of the license management (of disposal facilities),
- Improvement of regulation and monitoring in the field of nuclear safety and more
- particularly of radiation protection in the context of management, and clean-up of radioactive waste.
The overall objective of this project was to engage in activities with the Iraqi Ministry of Environment for their Radiation Protection Centre (RPC) personnel to achieve a level of efficiency consistent with international standards.
The technical outputs covered a comprehensive licensing roadmap for a disposal facility; regulatory review procedures; a manual for facility inspections; and, a Quality Assurance/Quality Control programme for alpha spectroscopy.
The project deepened the capacity of the Iraqi regulator by building on the baseline provided by the previous project INSC/2016/360-091 entitled “Support to the Regulatory Body of Iraq on Radioactive Waste Management, Decommissioning of Nuclear Facilities and Remediation of Contaminated Sites”.
Background
Following decades of military operations, looting and lack of upkeep, the Al-Tuwaitha Nuclear Site -located southeast of Baghdad- has become a major health hazard for the Iraqi people. Aiming to support the country’s efforts to collect and dispose safely of its nuclear waste, the Iraq Nuclear Decommissioning Project was launched in 2006. It followed a request from the Iraqi Government to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The programme aims to assist Iraq in planning and decommissioning nuclear facilities affected areas, managing radioactive waste, treating contaminated sites, and formulating relevant legal and regulatory frameworks. In 2009, the European Union launched a coordinated effort to contribute to this programme.
Between February 2016 and February 2020, in order to support national Iraqi authorities regarding nuclear waste management, the European Commission funded a project entitled “Support to the Regulatory Body of Iraq on Radioactive Waste Management, Decommissioning of Nuclear Facilities and Remediation of Contaminated Sites”. Following its first results and the will to strengthen national capacities by the project beneficiaries, in 2022, the EU Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation (INSC) launched the second phase of a project seeking to support Iraq’s authorities in strengthening their capacities on nuclear waste management to achieve a level of efficiency consistent with international standards, European best practices, and IAEA recommendations.
Objectives
The overall objective of this project was to engage in activities with the Iraqi Ministry of Environment for their RPC personnel to achieve a level of efficiency consistent with international standards, European best practices, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recommendations.
The main objective was to support the Iraqi’s Radiation Protection Centre (RPC) to refine its procedures, develop a comprehensive waste management plan, and foster a safety-oriented culture.
The project was mainly composed of training activities, online exchanges and technical visits to achieve three specific objectives taking into account the baseline set by the first project:
- Improvement of infrastructure rules related to disposal facilities,
- Strengthening of the license management (of disposal facilities),
- Improvement of regulation and monitoring in the field of nuclear safety and more particularly of radiation protection in the context of management, and clean-up of radioactive waste.
Results
The activities consolidated the regulatory, technical, and operational capacities of the successor of the RPC, formed Iraqi Nuclear, Radiological, Chemical and Biological Regulatory Commission (I-NRC) and positioned the institution to advance toward internationally recognised standards of radioactive waste management. I-NRC was established by a new law in October 2024 to which previous INSC previous projects contributed to.
The project successfully fulfilled its strategic objectives, delivering nineteen specialized training sessions, certifying forty-two I-NRC personnel, and developing four critical Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). The technical outcomes of the project include:
- A comprehensive licensing roadmap for a depleted uranium disposal facility in the Dhi Qar region.
- Regulatory review procedures incorporating a graded approach to safety assessments.
- An inspection manual complete with follow-up report templates and corrective action protocols.
- A QA/QC program for alpha spectroscopy, ensuring compliance with ISO 17025 and IAEA safety standards.
These achievements have positioned the I-NRC to effectively regulate Iraq’s nuclear and radiological activities in accordance with international safety standards and European best practices.
The project has had a profound impact on Iraq’s nuclear safety governance. The I-NRC’s regulatory capacities have been significantly enhanced, enabling the commission to independently conduct safety reviews, inspections, and licensing procedures.
Moreover, the project has contributed to the harmonization of Iraq’s regulatory practices with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) standards, thereby reinforcing the global nuclear safety architecture. The knowledge transfer facilitated by this initiative will continue to benefit Iraq’s nuclear sector, ensuring sustainable compliance with international safety protocols.