Nigeria Weighs Nuclear Training, Safety, Regulation Before Major Project Build

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Written by Richard Finlayson, Senior International Editor for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Nigeria has joined the list of developing countries that are planning to add nuclear power to their energy mixes and are accelerating preparations for effective regulation.

In the initial plan, a 1,200-megawatt (MW) nuclear plant was scheduled for commissioning in 2020. The power produced would supply a minimum of 4,000 MW to the national grid by 2030.

Capacity is being built to support project construction. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has started training a second batch of experts in areas of nuclear safety at the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) in the country's capital Abuja. The IAEA training was incorporated in partnership with the NNRA to provide basic professional training on nuclear power programming.

"The specific target of this basic professional training is to be able to train Nigerians so that they can provide further training in Nigeria and within the region as well," said IAEA training team leader Abida Khatoon. "There are some countries which are emerging and are embarking on nuclear power programs in the region. We have countries like Sudan, Kenya, Egypt and a number of others embarking on nuclear power programs."

Martin Ogharandukun, the acting director general of NNRA, said: "Since the inception of the NNRA, it has embraced the best regulatory framework within the context of the Act to effectively fulfill its primary regulatory functions, which include radiation protection, safety and security of radioactive sources, safeguards of nuclear materials, and the physical protection of nuclear facilities. This has been achieved through a system of registration, licensing and inspection of practices involving ionizing radiation and the enforcement of compliance with the Act."

The NNRA is guided by the five pillars of a regulatory control program: regulations and guidance; authorization; oversight functions; emergency planning and response; and ancillary functions. The NNRA has developed a draft bill covering all aspects of the design and construction of nuclear plants.

For related information, see March 5, 2014, article - Kenya Faces Licensing Challenges on Way to 1,000 Megawatt Nuclear Project.

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