Establishing the Independent, Effective

Regulatory Authority in the United Arab

Emirates

Ian GrantDirector of Nuclear Safety

Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation

Presentation Outline

• The Nuclear Energy Policy of the UAE

• International Commitments and Cooperation

• The Nuclear Law

• FANR

• Regulations and Guides

• Licensing the First NPP in the UAE

• Inspection and enforcement

• Conclusion

2

Abu Dhabi Development

3

UAE Policy on the Evaluation and

Potential Development of Peaceful

Nuclear Energy

• Complete operational

transparency

• Highest standards of non-

proliferation

• Highest standards of safety

and security

• Close cooperation with the

IAEA

• Partnership with governments

and firms of responsible

nations

• Long-term sustainability

4

Programme Launch

• Abu Dhabi Executive Affairs Authority acted as

“Nuclear Energy Programme Implementation

Organisation”

• Developed comprehensive roadmap for programme

implementation based on IAEA recommendations

• Fostered infant regulatory body

and operator

5

International Commitments

• Convention on Nuclear Safety

• Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent

Fuel Management and the Safety of

Radioactive Waste Management

• Conventions on Notification and Mutual

Assistance

• Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for

Nuclear Damage

• Convention on the Physical Protection

of Nuclear Material

• Comprehensive safeguards agreement

with the IAEA

• Additional protocol to the safeguards

agreement6

The UAE concluded all relevant international agreements:

Cooperation with International

Atomic Energy Agency

• Implementation of safety, security,

safeguards instruments

• Use of IAEA guidance

– Milestones in the Development of a

National Nuclear Infrastructure

– Safety Requirements

– Security Guides

• Technical Cooperation Programme

– Workshops, training, technical

assistance

• Peer review and expert missions

– INIR, IRRS, siting review…7

Nuclear Law:

Federal Law by Decree No 6 of 2009

Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy

• Legal framework for Safety, Security, Safeguards in the

Nuclear Sector, which includes:

– nuclear facilities; and

– regulated material (radioactive material / radiation

generators)

• Article (2) invokes the Nuclear Policy and gives

priority to Safety, Nuclear Safety, Nuclear Security,

Radiation Protection (IAEA definitions), Safeguards

8

Provisions of UAE Nuclear Law

• Establishment of FANR and its objectives

• Management of FANR

• Financial affairs of FANR

• Licences

• Inspection and Control

• Regulations and Guidelines

• Safeguards

• Radioactive Waste and Decommissioning

• Management of Safety

• Physical Protection

• Emergency Preparedness and Response9

National Allocation of Responsibilities

• Conduct of Regulated Activities prohibited without a

Licence from FANR

– FANR exclusively responsible for licensing

• Other agencies have relevant responsibilities: health,

environment, emergency preparedness, customs, etc.

– Article 7 of Nuclear Law requires FANR to cooperate with,

provide information to and advise other agencies

– MOUs in place or under negotiation

– Radiation Protection Committee includes other agencies as

members

10

Independence of Regulatory Body

• Nuclear Law establishes FANR as an independent legal

personality with “full legal competence and financial

and administrative independence”

– States that FANR shall determine all matters re. control &

supervision of Nuclear Sector to ensure Safety

• Fully separate from interests in Nuclear Sector

– Board Members prohibited from Regulated Activity, direct or

indirect

– Government reporting only via Annual Report to Minister for

Presidential affairs

11

FANR Functions and Responsibilities

• FANR functions and responsibilities according to the

Nuclear Law include:– Issue regulations for safety, security and safeguards

– Issue licenses to conduct regulated activities

– Carry out safety assessments

– Implement an inspection and control regime

– Establish and maintain a state system of accounting for and

control of nuclear material

– Establish frameworks for physical protection and emergency

preparedness and response for nuclear facilities and activities

– Determine civil and criminal penalties

12

FANR Organisation

13

Staffing and Competence

• Two tracks

– Staffing by senior expatriate staff to deal with short-medium

term needs

– HR development to ensure FANR long-term sustainability

• Currently strong cadre of experienced professionals in

nuclear safety and radiation protection

– 158 employees

• Recruitment of younger Emiratis

– Formal education and training

– Mentoring for development

• Role of knowledge management

14

Current Total UAE Nationals: 86

Distribution: 42 in Operations, 44 in Administration

Emiratization

UAE

54%

EXPAT

46%

FANR Emiratization %

UAE

72%

EXPAT

28%

ADMIN DIVISION

UAE

42%

EXPAT

58%

OPERATIONS DIVISION

15

Management System of the

Regulatory Body

• FANR’s Integrated Management System

– Follows GS-R-3

– IMS Manual with signed commitment of senior management

– Processes: Management, Core, Support

– Procedures and Work Instructions etc.

• IMS Committee (Department Directors) meets

regularly chaired by DDG

• Self assessment carried out

16

Regulations

• Nuclear Law:

– FANR Board may issue regulations specifying

requirements which all operators must comply

with and follow

– FANR to consider:

• Comments from stakeholders

• Information made available by experts

• Internationally recognised standards and

recommendations such as IAEA Safety Standards

• Regulations Process in IMS

– Two rounds of consultation: government

stakeholder and public 17

FANR Regulations Issued

• REG-01 Management Systems for Nuclear Facilities

• REG-02 Siting of Nuclear Facilities

• REG-03 Design of Nuclear Power Plants

• REG-04 Radiation Dose Limits & Optimisation of Radiation Protection for Nuclear

Facilities

• REG-05 Application of Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA) at Nuclear Facilities

• REG-06 Application for a License to Construct a Nuclear Facility

• REG-08 Physical Protection for Nuclear Materials and Nuclear Facilities

• REG-10 System of Accounting for and Control of Nuclear Material and Application of

Additional Protocol

• REG-11 Radiation Protection and Predisposal Radioactive Waste Management for

Nuclear Facilities

• REG-12 Emergency Preparedness for Nuclear Facilities

• REG-13 Safe Transport of Radioactive Materials

• REG-17 Certification of Operating Personnel at NPP Facilities

• REG-23 Security of Radioactive Sources

• REG-24 Basic Safety Standards for Facilities and Activities involving Ionising Radiation

other than in Nuclear Facilities 18

UAE Nuclear Power Plant

• Korean Advanced Power Reactor APR-1400

• Based on proven technology from the USA

• Reference plant at Shin Kori in Korea licensed for

construction

19

Licensing of Nuclear Facilities

• Regulated Activities applying to Nuclear facilities

which require a FANR licence:

– Selection of a site for construction

– Preparation of a site for construction

– Construction

– Commissioning

– Operation

– Closure (or change in closure date)

– Decommissioning

– Modifications having significance for safety

20

Licence Requirements

• Under Articles 26-34 of the Law:

– Applicants must submit detailed evidence of Safety

– FANR to conduct a thorough review and

assessment according to potential magnitude &

nature of hazard

– FANR Board may grant a licence, a conditional

licence, or refuse a licence

– Rejected applicants may seek review of decision

by BoM

21

Current Status of Facility Licensing

• Four licences issued:

– Site Selection Licence

– Site Preparation Licence

– Limited Construction Licence

– Construction Licence for Barakah Units1 & 2

• Application received Feb 2013 for

construction of Barakah Units 3&4

2222

• This licence permitted ENEC to carry out the

regulated activity of selecting a site for a nuclear

facility

• No approval by FANR of a specific site

• ENEC submitted a full technical justification for the

selected site with its construction licence

application

• Work done at the applicant’s risk

2323

Site Selection Licence

Site Preparation Licence

• Allowed activities such as:

– Erection of site security features,

– Establishment of roads and electrical and water

distribution systems,

– Admin office building,

– Dredging of shipping channel,

– Construction of wharf,

– Excavations, etc.

2424

Limited Construction Licence

• Manufacture of “long-lead” components

• Early site civil works

2525

Construction Licence Application

• Photo of PSAR

26

Construction Licence Application

• Application Letter

• Preliminary Safety Analysis Report

– 21 Chapters and supplements and addenda covering Safety,

Security and Safeguards

• Physical Protection Plan for construction

• Preliminary Safeguards Plan

• Preliminary Probabilistic Safety Assessment Report

Summary

• Severe Accident Analysis Report

• Aircraft Impact Analysis Report

27

FANR Licensing Process

• Part of FANR Integrated

Management System

• Governs process:

– Receipt of application

– Technical review

– Preparation of Safety Evaluation Report

– Licensing recommendations to FANR

Board of Management

• Procedures and review instructions

describe details

28

Using Safety Information from

Korea Country of Origin

• FANR used safety evaluations by Korean regulatory

body to support review of the construction licence

application in the UAE

• FANR conducted independent review where:

– UAE requirements could not be shown to be based on the

regulatory body’s assessment

– The proposed UAE design differed from that approved by the

other regulatory body

– Site characteristics specific to the UAE

– New operating experience since other regulatory body’s

approval

• Review plan identified review categories 29

Technical Support

Organisations Approach

• FANR engaged three TSOs in the US and Europe to

support review and assessment of CLA by augmenting

in-house resources

• FANR provided alignment and direction to TSOs

ensuring consistency across the CLA review

• FANR retains responsibility for regulatory decisions,

through its in-house team of seasoned staff

30

Fukushima Impact on Safety

• ENEC submitted a detailed safety

assessment of lessons learned to FANR in

December 2011

• FANR found that the design in combination

with proposed safety improvements

provides substantial margin to ensure that

a multiple-unit plant can cope with and

mitigate the effects of severe but low

probability events

31

Issuance of the U1&2

Construction Licence

• FANR Board of Management decided on 17 July 2012

to issue the licence authorising ENEC to carry out the

construction of units 1&2 and related activities.

• The licence contains conditions

– Compliance with the law, regulations and application

– Fulfilment of commitments

– Reporting of modifications and unplanned events

– Approval of import of components

• Safety Evaluation Report Summary and licence

available on FANR web site

– http://www.fanr.gov.ae/

32

Site progress

33

Inspection

• FANR to carry out a “planned and systematic inspection

programme” (Nuclear Law Art. 32-37)

– enter relevant sites & Facilities

– both announced & unannounced inspections

– immediate inspection on short notice if abnormal occurrence

• Enforcement in event of violation

– FANR empowered to take Enforcement Action to compel

Operator to take corrective actions

– Board may impose administrative penalties & fines

34

Inspection

• Programme Scope:

– ENEC and Prime Contractor

– Major Vendors

– Site Construction

3535

36

Conclusion

• UAE has established a comprehensive legal & regulatory

framework conforming to IAEA standards/guidance to

regulate the nuclear sector

• FANR is a functioning independent nuclear regulator

providing controls on safety, security and non-proliferation

• UAE benefits from strong international support, incl. IAEA

and access to Korean organizations and practices

• Active capacity building programme, human and technical

• Peer reviews show UAE regulatory system aligned with good

international practices

• Long term commitment to develop and maintain safety

culture36

Thank You!

37

www.fanr.gov.ae

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