Tanzania\u2019s Atomic Energy Commission (TAEC) face several challenges in building an independent nuclear regulator but with\u00a0strong commitment from the Government, the regulator has an opportunity to become an effective, independent body, an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of experts said.<\/p>\n
\u201cTanzania\u2019s regulator faces many challenges that also provide opportunities,\u201d said team leader Tom Ryan, Head of the Radiation Protection Regulatory Programme at Ireland\u2019s Environmental Protection Agency.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith strong commitment from the Government and by tackling the challenges, the regulator has an opportunity to become an independent, strong and effective body.\u201d<\/p>\n
The\u00a0IAEA Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) team recently concluded a 10-day mission to assess the regulatory framework for nuclear and radiation safety in United Republic of Tanzania.<\/p>\n
The team of experts made recommendations and suggestions to the Government and TAEC to help them improve the country\u2019s legal and regulatory framework and functions in line with IAEA Safety Standards.<\/p>\n
John Mngodo, the Acting Permanent Secretary of the United Republic of Tanzania\u2019s Ministry of Communication, Science and Technology, underlined the Government\u2019s commitment to improve radiation safety regulation as recommended by the team and said the IRRS mission would \u201cremain in the history of regulatory development in the country\u201d.<\/p>\n
Tanzania has no power or research reactors but plans to start mining uranium and uses radiation in medicine and industry.<\/p>\n
Tanzania needs to establish an independent regulatory body with responsibility for controlling all radiation facilities and activities in the country, said experts in their preliminary findings, according to IAEA experts.<\/p>\n
TAEC urgently needs to bring all unlicensed facilities using radiation under regulatory control, the team said, adding that the responsibility and functions for regulating uranium mining must be clearly delineated between TAEC and the Ministry of Energy and Minerals.<\/p>\n
The team noted that TAEC has established a comprehensive system of academic education in nuclear sciences and technologies which contributes to regulatory staff\u2019s education.<\/p>\n
The experts noted that TAEC needs to update the country\u2019s legislative and regulatory framework, develop and implement an integrated management system and use a graded approach that adapts the level of regulation to the level of associated risk.<\/p>\n
The 13-member IRRS team comprised experts from Australia, Belgium, Ireland, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan and Zimbabwe as well as six IAEA staff members.<\/p>\n