An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of experts find that Türkiye’s nuclear and radiation regulator showed commitment to continuous improvement of safety and the protection of people and the environment, the agency said on Friday in a statement.
The IAEA said that the Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) team concluded a 12-day mission to Türkiye on Friday, conducted from 5 to 16 September, to review the national legal and regulatory framework for nuclear and radiation safety regarding safe operation of the country's nuclear and radiation facilities and activities.
The mission was conducted at the request of Türkiye and hosted by the Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NDK), the country’s regulatory body, to review the legal and regulatory framework for nuclear and radiation safety, according to IAEA.
Reiterating that Türkiye currently has two research reactors and a waste management facility, the IAEA noted that Türkiye uses radiation sources in medicine and industry, while four pressurized water reactors are under construction for Türkiye's first nuclear power plant, Akkuyu NPP.
The Agency stressed that when completed, the nuclear power plant will have a gross electrical capacity of 4800 MW(e), which will diversify the country’s energy mix and decrease reliance on energy imports.
'All parties communicated on their regulatory, technical and policy issues in a very open and transparent manner. We found that some of the identified areas for improvement are already contained in NDK’s action plan for improving the national regulatory infrastructure as a result of their self-assessment,' Georg Schwarz, Team Leader and Former Deputy Director General of Swiss Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate ENSI, was quoted as saying.
The IAEA said that the mission stressed in their report that it was important for NDK to further enhance national regulations for the effective oversight of facilities and activities, in accordance with the IAEA safety standards, while making recommendations for improving the regulatory arrangements in the country,
'We are pleased that our efforts to enhance our nuclear framework is reflected in the report and we will continue to focus on further aligning our national programme to international regulatory standards across all facilities and activities and Türkiye’s first nuclear power plant,' Zafer Demircan, president of NDK, also said.
The IAEA noted that the final mission report will be provided to the government in three months.
By Ebru Sengul Cevrioglu
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr