NNRA and NAEC collaborate with IAEA to organize the National Workshop on SEED Capacity Building for Site Safety Evaluation and Review for New Nuclear Installation Programme in Nigeria.

NNRA and NAEC collaborate with IAEA to organize the National Workshop on SEED Capacity Building for Site Safety Evaluation and Review for New Nuclear Installation Programme in Nigeria.

In furtherance of Nigeria’s efforts in building capacity for siting the first of Nuclear Power Plant(NPP), the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority(NNRA) and the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission(NAEC) in collaboration International Atomic Energy Agency(IAEA) hosted a week-long programme on ‘’Site External Event Design (SEED)  Capacity Building for Site Safety Evaluation and Review for New Nuclear Installation Programme in Nigeria’’ from 12^th to 16^th December,2022 at the Conference Room of the NNRA, Abuja.

The objective of the programme is to provide a technical training workshop focusing on country-specific weaknesses and issues that were discovered through a self-assessment in site safety review and assessment for new nuclear installation programmes in Nigeria. It will also strengthen the national framework for managing the sitting and site evaluation stage of the nuclear power plant programme in Nigeria.

The programme was facilitated by the International- Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and presentations were made by both NAEC and the NNRA. These presentations were aimed at giving a background on the status of Nigeria’s Nuclear Power Programme from both promotional and regulatory perspectives   

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the DG/CEO of NNRA Dr. Yau Idris, who was represented by the General Manager, Nuclear Safety, Physical Security and Safeguards Department, Dr. Nasiru-Deen Bello noted that the workshop is very important as there is a need for Nigeria to develop and build necessary capacity through appropriate site safety review and assessment for new nuclear power plant development. The representative of the DG/CEO thanked the IAEA for its effort in obliging Nigeria’s call in ensuring an effective and efficient site evaluation and review regime in Nigeria. He, therefore, urged participants to take advantage of the opportunity by tapping from the rich knowledge of the Resources Persons and Experts.

The representative of the Chairman/CEO NAEC, Engr. Anthony Ekedegwa, Director Planning, Design, Siting and Licensing, stated that since the establishment of NAEC in 2006, activities have been ongoing; particularly that of site selection for the development of the Nuclear Power Plant as two sites have been selected and preliminary work is being carried out. He further opined that Nigeria is at the threshold of carrying out feasibility studies for the selected candidate sites. He wished the participants a successful deliberation and an impactful outcome that would meet the objective of the workshop.

In his remarks, the IAEA team lead Expert, Mr. Ayhan Altinyollar, commended Nigeria’s awareness of the importance of proper evaluation of nuclear installation sites, review and assessment of site evaluation reports with the use of international standards and good practices for those activities. He noted that the selection of a suitable site for a nuclear installation and proper characterization of the selected site is crucial and a poor decision on site selection can affect the costs, public acceptance and safety of the installation over its operating lifetime. He appreciated the NNRA and NAEC for coordinating the workshop and commended Nigeria for the warm reception accorded them.

Participants were drawn from NNRA, NAEC and the Federal Ministry of Environment.