Context

The countries of the ECA region face radiological and nuclear risks arising from uranium mining, milling, processing and transportation as well as from the state of management of radioactive sources. Past experiences (e.g. in Central Asia) show that sustainable uranium mining requires the application of best international practices and standards to avoid negative environmental impact and expensive remediation. Exporting uranium ore concentrate through several countries requires also harmonized legal frameworks and their synchronized implementation at border crossings to prevent illicit trafficking of radioactive materials. Project 60 seeks synergies with a parallel EU-funded project under the Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation (INSC) - MC 5.01/15B “Support for Southern African Countries in Nuclear Safety and Safeguards”.

Objective

The overall long-term objective of the project is to strengthen and harmonize the nuclear regulatory frameworks in the participating countries, to enhance their nuclear safety and security and to support their efforts to fulfill the international safeguards obligations they have undertaken under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty; safeguards agreements with the IAEA; the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material; the UN Security Council Resolution 1540; as well as the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty. As part of the development policies in the ECA countries, radioactive sources are ever more widely used in medical institutions and in industry. The licensing, handling and control of these sources, especially at the end of their economic lifetime, occasionally results in leftover orphan sources. At the same time a more efficient regulatory oversight of licensed radiation sources acquires greater importance, as do the regular inspections on compliance.