Environment & Energy | Friday 18 September, 2015 3:00 am |

The IAEA and Rosatom have entered into the Practical Arrangements to enhance cooperation in the area of radiation safety on September 14 on the sidelines of the IAEA Scientific Forum.

Deputy Director General for Nuclear Safety Denis Flory has signed the PAs from the IAEA side and Deputy Director General - Director for Innovation Management Vyacheslav Pershukov put his signature from Rosatom side.

Practical Arrangements constitute bilateral agreement to extend cooperation in radiation safety to include all projects conducted between the IAEA and Rosatom.

The IAEA has put forward the initiative to sign PAs with all Russian organizations currently collaborating with the IAEA in the area of radiation safety. Rosatom took the lead to sign the PAs first among other Russian institutions.

The scope of the Practical Arrangements covers nuclear personnel radiation risks assessment and management activities under conditions of planned exposal to radiation in professional environment. The projects runs for 3 years under Rosatom General Inspection oversight with participation of experts from the Ministry of Health. Rosatom funds the projects and the IAEA provides the international expertise.

Project aims to develop a methodology for assessing individual radiation risks for staff of nuclear facilities in Russia based on individual dose calculation and analysis. Russian guidance will be developed to address radiation risks assessment and management in situations of planned exposal to radiation. The guidance will be reviewed by the IAEA with recommendations to apply Russian experience and methodology to nuclear facilities outside of Russia. The guidance will be published as a technical document to facilitate best international experience circulation between the IAEA Member States.

"By signing the Practical Arrangements Russian Federation once again validates its status as a global leader in nuclear power. Russia will become the first country to implement risk-assessment approach in monitoring and controlling personnel exposal to radiation. Rosatom is ready to share its experience with countries cooperating with Russia to build national nuclear power programmes. - said Vyacheslav Pershukov.