NATIONAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR IMPLEMENTATION

OF REMEDIATION TECHNIQUES IN EGYPT,

CASE-STUDY

Prof. Nadia HELALHead of Radiation Safety Department,

Egyptian Nuclear& Radiological Regulatory Authority

Technical Meeting on Remediation Techniques and Strategies in

Post-Accident Situations, 13-17 June 2016, IAEA, Vienna

Contents

• Egyptian Nuclear& Radiation Infrastructure

• Egyptian Nuclear& Radiation Law no. (7) of 2010

• Egyptian Nuclear& Radiological Regulatory Authority

(ENRRA):

• Mission

• policy

• Structure

Background

• For more than 58 years, Egypt has benefited from the

peaceful applications of atomic energy:

• Nuclear and radiation facilities.

• Research and development activities.

• Radiation applications and uses of radioactive sources.

Nuclear Facilities

• First Research Reactor ETRR-1 (2 MW)

• Second Research Reactor ETRR-2 (22 MW)

• Nuclear Fuel Manufacturing Pilot Plant FMPP

• Nuclear Fuel Research and Development Laboratory

• Molybdenum Production Unit

• Hydrometallurgy Pilot Unit

• Nuclear Chemistry Building

• Locations Outside Facilities (LOF)

Currently;

Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA) owns and operate

all nuclear facilities in Egypt

Radiation Facilities & Radioactive Sources

• Two Gamma Irradiators (one in operation up to 1,000,000 Ci60Co & one in commissioning phase; designed for 2,000,000 Ci60Co)

• Radioactive Sources (different applications)

• Treatment of cancers,

• Industrial uses,

• Oil & Gas exploration and development

Currently, over 6000 known radioactive sources are used in

Egypt.

EGYPTIAN

NUCLEAR& RADIATION LAW

NO. (7) OF 2010

Egyptian Nuclear & Radiation Law

• The Egyptian Nuclear and radiation Law no. 7 of 2010 was

promulgated on March 29th, 2010. The Law covering safety,

security, safeguards, emergency and liability for the whole

peaceful applications of atomic energy.

• The law stipulates that all nuclear and radiation facilities,

practices and activities in the Arab Republic of Egypt shall

exclusively be restricted to peaceful purposes.

• The executive regulation of the law issued in 2011.

Egyptian Nuclear & Radiological Regulatory

Authority (ENRRA)

• Mission

• Policy

• Structure

ENRRA

The Law no. 7 of 2010 established an independent

body known as “Egyptian Nuclear & Radiological

Regulatory Authority (ENRRA)”, having a public

juridical personality, reporting to the Prime Minister,

having an independent budget and centrally located in

Cairo.

Mission

Article (12) of the law states that: “the authority shall carry out

all regulatory and control works related to the nuclear or

radiation activities using the atomic energy for the peaceful

purposes, to ensure the security and safety of human,

property and environment from the risks of exposure to

ionizing radiation”.

ENRRA policy

• ENRRA’s main target is protecting individuals, property, and

the environment from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation.

• Relying on national legislation, international standards and

expertise, national and international best practices in

implementing its duties.

•Working on the implementation of corrective measures against

violation

Structure

ENRRA(Chairman of

the Board)

Central Nuclear and

Radiological

Emergency

Chamber

National Network

for Radiological

Monitoring

Supreme

Committee for

Nuclear &

Radiological

Emergency

Research &

Development

Activities

(Internal TSO)

Nuclear

Facilities

Safety Sector

Nuclear

Safeguards &

Nuclear Security

Sector

Radiation

Sources &

Facilities Safety

Sector

ENRRA(Vice

Chairman)

Central

Laboratories

Supreme Committee for

Nuclear& Radiological Emergency

Arrangements in Response to Emergency preparedness and

Response at the National Level

• Establishing a Supreme Committee for Nuclear and Radiological

(N/R) Emergency

• Works under the supervision of the chairman of the Egyptian

Nuclear& Regulatory Authority, (ENRRA)

• Has a clear responsibilities for issuing the national emergency plan

and ensure the existing of national capabilities in respect to N/R

emergency.

Emergency Control Center (ECC)

Intervention Teams of ECC in Response to N/R Accident

Radiation Monitoring and

Survey Team

Radiation Monitoring and

Survey Team

Measurements and Samples

Collection Team

Quality assurance and

Management Team

Evaluation & Lessons Learned

Team

Medical Team

Decontamination Team

Radiation Sources

Recovery Team

Public Announcement

Radiation Incidents and Follow-up Actions

Meet-Halfa Radiation Accident

• In 1998, due to bad practice and human error, Ir-192

capsule was lost near the pipe at the examination site.

• It was found one month later inside the house of farmer

living in Meet Halfa village (few kilometers from Cairo rail-

way station).

• The competent authorities were not informed of the lost

capsule and the company did not report it missing.

• Two persons died before the capsule was found.

The source was transported to the hot cell of EAEA

Hot Laboratory Center to identify its serial number.

Hence the owner of the source was identified. The rest of

the farmer family were under treatment for several months

and they are now living in good health in the village.

The case was on trial and the staffs are in jail.

Among the lessons learned from this accident:

It was found that radiation sources were

exchanged without notification of the competent

authorities.

The technical committee for ionizing radiation proposed a

draft of recommendations to secure and control of radiation

sources in use for industrial radiography.

The draft of recommendations was approved and it was

issued as the ministry of health order no 204 (2000) .

Recommendations were made for license, sources, storage

facilities and radiation protection expert duties.

Assistant radiographer training and license–notification at

ports and punishments.

In 1998

• EAEA was informed through IAEA that a Cs-137 source was found within a waste cargo in Amsterdam port.

• That waste was imported from Alexandria, Egypt. The source was unshielded and its activity was 1 mCi.

•

• EAEA reported to the ministry of health (the relevant competent authority for sealed sources).

Investigation leads to the company who issued un-

authorized certificate that the waste does not contain

radioactive materials

The company was terminated as well the user

license.

In 2002In 2002

• During 2002 two incidents were reported.

• The first incident was a container recognized by

an EAEA technician due to the presence of the

ionizing radiation sign.

• The technician had completed radiation protection

course recently.

The container was reported in a waste store in

Cairo ready for sale. All the relevant information was

written in English.

It was a shielded container where Am-Be neutron

source (yield =105 ns -1) was in use for moisture

measurements.

That source was imported to Egypt through the official

channels in 1975.

It was in use for research purposes for years.

It was recovered by EAEA and it was in the EAEA

radioactive waste storage facility.

• In 2002• A second incident has taken place where an Industrial gamma

camera has been stolen from factory car located in residential

area of Cairo.

• The owner of the camera and the radiation protection expert

have reported it to the competent authorities next day.

• Three thieves have stolen the camera and tried to open it, they

sold it to waste company where it kept for few days.

• The camera was returned to the house of one of the thieves,

where his wife and children were in the house.

Then the thief dropped it in Ismalia canal.

After proper searching the camera was found by the diver and it

was surveyed and secured in transport container and kept

under the supervision of the competent authority.

The company technical staff are still under trial.

Members of the public involved in this incident were

1-Three thieves

2-Four workers at the waste facility

3-A housewife and 2 children.

LESSONS LEARNEDLESSONS LEARNED

which govern the national law The need for

handling of radiation sources and facilities

was recognized, which lead to the issue

of Egyptian nuclear and radiation safety law

No 7, 2010

• ENRRA has carried out a complete and intensive review

of safety guidelines and regulatory requirements with the

aim of formulating a set of new regulations to protect

people and the environment.

• Experiences were gained for strengthening the internal

capability to emergency response and disseminating the

concept of information to avoid hazard consequences of

any radiological accident.

Strengthening and Improving the Practical Capabilities of

the N/R-EC on both National and International Levels by

Participating in IAEA International Drills

e.g. :Convex 2b& Convex 3.

The regulatory authorities should perform an investigation to

determine the causes, contributing factor, lessons learned,

recommendations in order to prevent the occurrence of

such events.