IAEA Endorses Türkiye Nuclear Regulatory Practices
Türkiye's journey in establishing a robust nuclear regulatory framework began in 1956 with the formation of its first nuclear regulatory body, the Atomic Energy Commission. The Atomic Energy Commission was later replaced by the Turkish Atomic Energy Authority (TAEK) in 1982. TAEK held the responsibility for regulating all activities associated with the peaceful use of nuclear energy, including safety assessments, inspections, licensing, and enforcement actions. However, it also operated certain facilities requiring regulatory control. To further enhance the regulatory system in Türkiye and achieve full compliance with international requirements and expectations, TAEK, in coordination with the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (MENR), drafted the Nuclear Energy Law, leading to the establishment of the independent Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NDK).
The NDK's mandate encompasses nuclear safety, security, safeguards, radiation safety, and protection. Its responsibilities include issuing regulations, conducting inspections, granting licenses, and enforcing compliance with international requirements. The licensing process for nuclear installations in Türkiye involves three stages: site license, construction license, and operating license. During this process, the NDK reviews various documents such as safety analysis reports, physical protection program documentation, and emergency plans. The NDK collaborates with national and international organizations, conducts research and development activities, and establishes radiation monitoring systems.
To establish a licensing process aligned with the new nuclear law, the NDK is developing a new regulation. Until this regulation is finalized, the Decree on Licensing of Nuclear Installations remains in effect. The licensing process follows a "3S" approach, which emphasizes safety, security, and safeguards. The NDK reviews reports and programs related to these aspects during the evaluation of license applications. Approval of the physical protection program and nuclear material accountancy and control system of a nuclear power plant (NPP) is a prerequisite before granting permission to bring nuclear material on-site. The review of emergency management information is completed before fuel loading is permitted.
For the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant project, the directive is being implemented. The owner determined a list of applicable regulations, guides, and standards, which was approved by TAEK. The licensing basis for the Akkuyu NPP primarily consists of Turkish regulations, IAEA safety fundamentals and requirements, and Russian Federation regulations. The list also includes standards and guides from Türkiye and the Russian Federation, with the Novovoronezh-II NPP in Russia approved as the reference plant for Akkuyu NPP.
In September 2022, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) conducted an Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) Mission to Türkiye. The IAEA's mission was to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of Türkiyes regulatory framework for nuclear safety and radiation protection. The IRRS team thoroughly examined Türkiye's regulatory practices and procedures, assessing their compliance with international safety standards. The mission aimed to identify areas of improvement and recommend best practices for enhancing Türkiye’s national regulatory framework. This assessment was crucial to ensuring the safety and resilience of Türkiye's nuclear activities and promoting public confidence in the country's nuclear industry. The IAEA's Integrated Regulatory Review Service Mission to Türkiye in 2022 played a pivotal role in enhancing Türkiye's nuclear safety practices and fostering international cooperation in the field.
Türkiye provided a self-assessment and preliminary action plan to the IAEA team in advance of the mission, facilitating a comprehensive review of the regulatory infrastructure across all nuclear and radiation facilities. The mission was hosted by the Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NDK). The team found that Türkiye has already taken steps to address identified areas for improvement in their self-assessment through NDK's action plan for enhancing the national regulatory infrastructure.
The mission also revealed that Türkiye has addressed the challenges to oversee the construction and to regulate the safe commissioning and operation of its NPP by:
Revising the legal framework to stipulate the fundamental principles and rules to be applied for the protection of the workers, the public and the
Establishing NDK in 2019 as the independent regulatory body for oversight of nuclear and radiation safety of facilities and activities
Establishing the technical support organization Nükleer Teknik Destek Anonim Şirketi (NÜTED A.Ş.), to support NDK in regulatory functions including review, assessment and inspection
Senior officials from NDK and NÜTED will be speaking and participating in the Turkiye NBP 2023 conference and exhibition which will take place 6-8 November in Antalya. This industry meeting is hosted by Nükleer Teknik Destek Anonim Şirketi (NÜTED A.Ş.). For more information, www.nuclearbusiness-platform.com/turkiye/tnbp-2023
