IAEA chief reaches India today

[Hindustani78]

IAEA chief reaches India today | Zee News
Last Updated: Friday, March 27, 2015 - 09:34

New Delhi: IAEA director general Yukiya Amano will be visiting India on Friday and is expected to make a tour of the Rajasthan Atomic Power Plant (RAPS) here.


Amano, the chief of the world's nuclear watchdog agency, will hold talks with the officials of the Ministry of External Affairs and Department of Atomic Energy and is expected to review the progress made on the Indo-US nuclear deal.

Incidentally, India had last year ratified IAEA's Additional Protocol and also brought 22 nuclear facilities, including 14 atomic power reactors, under the agency's safeguards, enabling it to have greater role in inspection of these units.

The last of two such reactors -- Narora Atomic Power Plant (NAPS) units 1 and 2 -- went under IAEA's safeguard in December, 2014.

Amano's visit comes barely days after India hosted an international conference on the Indian Nuclear Insurance Pool (INIP) to brief and apprise its global partners of the setting up of the fund as a part of the overall risk-management scheme for liability.

Apart from several atomic experts from the country, which includes officials of Nuclear Controls & Planning Wing (NCPW) of DAE, Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI) and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), representatives from various countries, including Australia, Canada, France, Japan, the US and Russia were present during the workshop.

Representatives of IAEA, too, attended the conference.

Amano is expected to visit RAPS Unit 5 at Rawatbhata, which has created a record with continuous run of 765 days at its full capacity of 220 MWe.

This is the second-highest operating record after a unit (500-MWe) of the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station in Canada, which had a continuous run of 894 days that ended in 1994.

Amano had also visited India in 2011 and 2013.

PTI

 

[Hindustani78]

The Director General, International Atomic Energy Agency, Mr. Yukiya Amano calls on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, in New Delhi on March 27, 2015.

The Director General, International Atomic Energy Agency, Mr. Yukiya Amano calls on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, in New Delhi on March 27, 2015.

IAEA wants India to enact policy for radioactive waste management | Zee News
Last Updated: Friday, March 27, 2015 - 22:36

Mumbai: Global nuclear watchdog IAEA on Friday asked India to ensure its atomic regulator's independence to prevent an "undue influence" and come out with a national policy for radioactive waste management.


At the end of a 12-day visit by its team of Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) experts, who travelled to various nuclear facilities in the country, IAEA said, "The government should embed the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) regulatory independence in law, separated from other entities having responsibilities or interests that could unduly influence its decision making."

"The government should promulgate a national policy and strategy for safety, and a radioactive waste management strategy as a statement of the government's intent," IRRS experts recommended.

The team comprising nuclear energy experts visited different nuclear sites during its 12-day mission. India maintains that such reviews reflect access given by the government to international monitors and strengthen the case of India for a membership to the nuclear control regimes.

Incidentally, IAEA Director General General Yukiya Amano is also on a visit to India.

Currently, the AERB, established in 1983, is tasked with regulating the safety and security aspects of the country's civilian nuclear facilities. However, it is not an autonomous body as it depends on the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) for all practical purposes.

Critics say, it has been unable to perform its regulatory functions effectively. The demand for establishing a truly autonomous nuclear regulatory authority has been a long- standing one. In 1997, the Raja Ramanna Committee report had recommended that the Atomic Energy Act (1962) should be amended to enhance the effectiveness of the nuclear regulatory system in the country.

To give more teeth to the AERB and ensure its independence, the Nuclear Safety Regulatory Authority (NSRA) Bill was first introduced in the Lok Sabha in 2011. The bill has now lapsed and will have to be reintroduced in the new Lok Sabha.

PTI

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IAEA praises India’s commitment to safety - The Hindu
Updated: March 27, 2015 20:13 IST

Yukio Amano meets PM Modi; seeks Calls for more autonomy for AERB
India has a “strong commitment to safety” but the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) needs more independence and separation from the government, the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency has said after completing a 12-day review of India’s nuclear safety standards. The IAEA’s review report, that was completed as Director General Yukio Amano visited Mumbai, Delhi, and the Rajasthan Atomic Power Stattion (RAPS), also called for the Indian government to allow more on-site inspections at the nuclear power plants (NPPs) under international safeguards.

According to a release from the IAEA in Vienna, six preliminary suggestions were given at the end of the review which were accepted by the Indian agency. The Chairman of the AERB S.S. Bajaj was quoted as saying, “AERB is committed to pursuing the improvements suggested by the mission towards further strengthening the regulatory framework.” Among other suggestions, the international agency said

India needs a “national policy” for nuclear safety and radioactive waste management, and needs more “internal emergency arrangements”.

The IAEA review came at the invitation of the Indian government after it concluded handing over its civilian nuclear reactors for international scrutiny, and submitted to IAEA requirements for accounting for spent fuel and other nuclear processes. India has also completed its “policy issues” with the US over administrative arrangements for the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal, paving the way for nuclear trade to begin.

At the end of his visit, IAEA chief Yukio Amano met with PM Modi in Delhi. Nuclear trade for reactors and fuel would be a part of PM Narendra Modi’s discussions when he visits France and Canada next month. India is also keen to get backing for a future bid for membership to the Nuclear Suppliers Group, which it has been kept out of as India has refused to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). All 93 signatories to the

NPT will be meeting at a major review conference at the United Nations in April and May, which will be significant ahead of the NSG’s annual conference in June.

 

[Hindustani78]

Prime Minister's Office
27-March, 2015 20:22 IST
The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency calls on PM

Mr Yukiya Amano, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today.

The Prime Minister lauded IAEA for its enormous contribution to the promotion of safe and secure use of atomic science for peace and development in the world – goals that India shared. He thanked Director General Amano for his leadership in focusing IAEA`s efforts on human development, including food security and health; for enhancing safety standards in nuclear power plants and other facilities; and, for IAEA`s continuing high standards in its regulatory role. The Prime Minister attached special importance to IAEA`s crucial role in generating public awareness and confidence on safety aspects; and, in supporting efforts to make nuclear power more affordable.

The Prime Minister recalled India`s excellent relations with IAEA since India became a founding member of the agency. As a member of the Board of Governor of IAEA, India, he emphasised, attached utmost importance to advancing the goals of IAEA.

The Prime Minister conveyed that he considered nuclear energy to be vital for supporting economic development in India, meeting the energy needs of our people and addressing the challenge of climate change. At the same time, he sought to place special emphasis on using atomic science for addressing the needs of ordinary citizens, by application in areas like health care, agriculture, food preservation, clean water and waste management. He reiterated India`s commitment to maintaining the highest global standards of nuclear safety and security.

Director General Amano expressed appreciation and admiration for the India`s progress in nuclear science and technology, focus on developmental aspects, commitment to the highest levels of safety and security standards, and record as a responsible nuclear power; the excellent relations between IAEA and India; India`s contribution to the work of IAEA; and, India`s assistance to neighbouring and other countries in the peaceful and developmental aspects of nuclear science.

***

 

[opruh]

IAEA needs to inspect harder just to be sure.

 

[Hindustani78]

IAEA needs to inspect harder just to be sure.

US Ambassador to India Richard Verma
Last Updated: Saturday, March 28, 2015 - 14:13

In his address at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Verma said that India can be a valuable partner in multilateral institutions.

"We can work towards civil nuclear cooperation today because India implemented IAEA safeguards for their civil nuclear programme, including the Additional Protocol.

 

[Lord ZeN]

IAEA needs to inspect harder just to be sure.

Yeah right.

 

[Capt.Popeye]

IAEA needs to inspect harder just to be sure.

Maybe we should give them better quality eyeglasses ....... just to be sure.

 

[Hindustani78]

In its preliminary findings, the Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS)

"The IRRS team concluded that there is a strong commitment to safety in India," said team leader Ramzi Jammal, Executive Vice-President and Chief Regulatory Operations Officer at the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. "India's Atomic Energy Regulatory Board is an experienced, knowledgeable and dedicated regulatory body for the protection of the public and the environment. It continues to enhance its regulatory programme to face the current and future challenges in regulating nuclear safety, such as reinforcing the safety of existing nuclear facilities, monitoring ageing and decommissioning, as well as providing oversight of the construction, commissioning and operation of new nuclear power plants."


S.S. Bajaj, Chairman of the India Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, who received the IRRS draft report at the conclusion of the mission, said:

"The acknowledgement of the effectiveness of India's safety regulation in the outcome of this IRRS mission has renewed AERB's resolve and commitment for ensuring a high level of safety in the facilities and activities. AERB is committed to pursuing the improvements suggested by the mission towards further strengthening the regulatory framework."

 

[Hindustani78]

IAEA favours statutory backing for India's nuclear regulator | Zee News
Last Updated: Tuesday, March 31, 2015 - 22:12

Mumbai: The UN nuclear watchdog IAEA has called for statutory backing for the country's Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) to ensure its decisions are not unduly influenced by external agencies.


This was stated today by AERB Chairman S S Bajaj, who quoted a report prepared by experts of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

"The Government should embed the AERB's regulatory independence in law, separated from other entities having responsibilities or interests that could unduly influence its decision-making.

"The Government should promulgate a national policy and strategy for the safety and bring about a radioactive waste management strategy as a statement of its intent," Bajaj said here, quoting the report.

The IAEA experts were in India from March 16 to 27 to review - under its Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) mission - the country's regulatory framework for nuclear power plants.

The mission is peer review service designed to strengthen and enhance the effectiveness of the national nuclear regulatory infrastructure.

AERB, set up in 1983 through a gazette notification, is tasked with regulating the safety and security aspects of the civilian nuclear facilities. However, till date, it has not been given an autonomous status and the Board depends on the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), headquartered in Mumbai, for all practical purposes.

In 2011, the Nuclear Safety Regulatory Authority (NSRA) Bill was drafted by the DAE and introduced in the Lok Sabha, but could not be taken up for debate and subsequently it lapsed. The Bill proposed to set up an autonomous nuclear regulatory body.

"The Bill was introduced in Parliament, but it later lapsed. It will now have to be reintroduced in the new Lok Sabha," Bajaj told reporters here.

However, he observed that giving the Board an autonomous status will change nothing on the ground level as it will only give a legal status to AERB.

The IRRS mission suggested that AERB should review the implementation of its policy and existing arrangements to ensure it maintains independence in the performance of its regulatory functions.

Praising the Board, the mission leader Ramzi Jammal said, "the AERB is an experienced, knowledgeable and dedicated regulatory body. It continues to enhance regulatory programme to face the current and future challenges."

PTI

 

[Hindustani78]

The Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (I/C), Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh visiting the “Dhruva” reactor, at Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC), in Mumbai on April 07, 2015. The Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy, Dr. R.K. Sinha is also seen.

The Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (I/C), Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh meeting the Scientists, at Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC), in Mumbai on April 07, 2015. The Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy, Dr. R.K. Sinha is also seen.

The Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (I/C), Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh visiting the “Dhruva” reactor, at Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC), in Mumbai on April 07, 2015. The Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy, Dr. R.K. Sinha is also seen.