Role of Independent Regulatory
Body for Safe Operation of NPPs
Zia Hussain Shah
Director, Centre for Nuclear Safety
Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA)
Safety Principle
The government shall establish a
legislative and statutory framework for
the
regulations
of
nuclear
installations. There shall be clear
separation of responsibilities of
regulatory body and the operating
organization.
International requirement for Independent
Regulatory Body
Convention on
Nuclear Safety – 1994
Article 7
(Regarding
national
legislation)
Article 8
(Establish a
Regulatory body)
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IAEA Requirements
An independent
regulatory body shall be
established
Responsibilities shall be
assigned to the R.B for
regulatory activities
(licensing, review ..)
Adequate authority/power,
staffing and financial
resources shall be provided
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Regulatory Independence
• Political
• Legislative
Aspects of
Regulatory
Independence
• Financial
• Competence
• Information to the public
• International
Aspects of Regulatory Independence
1. Political
Government shall ensure clear and effective
separation of responsibilities and duties between the
regulatory body and organizations promoting
nuclear energy
Regulatory body should, however, be accountable in
respect of fulfilling its mission to protect workers,
the public and the environment from undue
radiation hazards.
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Aspects of Regulatory Independence
2. Legislative
● Legislative framework should define the functions
and independence of the regulatory body in respect
of safety
● Regulatory body shall have the authority to adopt
or to develop regulations relating to safety
Regulatory body shall also have the authority to
take
decisions,
including
decisions
on
enforcement actions.
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Aspects of Regulatory Independence
3. Financial
● The regulatory body shall be provided with
adequate authority and power, and it shall be
ensured that it has adequate staffing and
financial resources to discharge its assigned
responsibilities
● the budget of the regulatory body should not be
subject to review and approval by government
agencies responsible for exploiting or
promoting the development of nuclear
technologies
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Aspects of Regulatory Independence
4. Competence
● What is Need of Competence in a RB ?
● Regulatory body should have independent technical
expertise in the areas relevant to its responsibilities
for safety.
● Management of the regulatory body should therefore
have the responsibility and authority to recruit staff
with the skills and technical expertise
● RB should have the authority to set up and fund
independent advisory bodies to provide expert opinion
and advice and to award contracts for research and
development projects
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Aspects of Regulatory
Independence
5. Public Information
" Regulatory body shall have the authority to
communicate independently its regulatory
requirements, decisions and opinions and their basis
to the public."
Aspects of Regulatory Independence
6. International
"The regulatory body shall have the authority to
liaise with regulatory bodies of other countries and
with international organizations to promote
cooperation and exchange of regulatory
information."
Creation of PNRA as an
independent regulatory body
2001
PNRB was created as a quasiindependent Regulatory Body
1994
Promulgation of Pakistan
Nuclear Safety & Radiation
Protection Regulations
1990
Creation of Directorate of
Nuclear Safety and Radiation
Protection (DNSRP)
1984
Creation of Pakistan Atomic
Energy Commission (PAEC)
1965
JOURNEY TOWARDS AN INDEPENDENT REGULATORY BODY
EVOLUTION OF PNRA AS AN INDEPENDENT
REGULATORY BODY
PNRA Ordinance
In 2001 the GoP Established the Pakistan
Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA) as an
independent regulatory authority to regulate
the nuclear safety and radiation protection in
the country through PNRA Ordinance 2001
Mission of PNRA
To protect the radiation workers,
general public and the environment
from the harmful effects of ionising
radiation
Radiation
Hazard ~
8 April 2015
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Functions of PNRA
•
Develop Regulations, Guidelines, Standards
•
and Licensing Procedures
Conduct Safety Review & Assessment of
the Nuclear Installations
8 April 2015
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Functions of PNRA
● Perform Regulatory Inspections
to ensure compliance with the
regulatory requirements
● Initiate enforcement action in
case of non compliance of
regulatory requirements
Construction
Licence
Operating
Licence
COMPOSITION OF THE AUTHORITY
PNRA Regulatory Framework
PNRA Ordinance
Regulations
Regulatory Guides
Industrial Codes and Standards
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PNRA Regulatory Infrastructure
PNRA HQ
RNSD-I
RNSD-II
RNSD-III
RNSI-I
RNSI-II
RNSI-III
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PNRA Regulations
 Administrative
 Regulations defining processes and other administrative matters
such as
−
−
−
−
Licensing regulations (PAK/907, 908, 909)
Enforcement regulations (PAK/950)
Fee regulations (PAK/900)
PNRA Transaction of Business (PAK/901)
 Technical
 Regulations specific to facilities
−
NPPs siting, design, operation, etc. (PAK/910, 911, 912, 913)
 Generic regulations (applicable to all facilities)
−
Radiation protection, waste management, emergency preparedness, etc.
(PAK/904, 914, 915)
All PNRA Regulations are available at PNRA website
www.pnra.org
Thank you
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