US and Ukrainian Nuclear Regulators Sign Memorandum of Cooperation
SNRI Acting Chairman and Chief State Inspector for Nuclear and Radiation Safety of Ukraine Oleh Korikov and Chairman of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (US NRC) Christopher T. Hanson signed a Memorandum of Cooperation in the Field of Nuclear and Radiation Safety.
This was reported by the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate, Censor.NET reports.
"The memorandum provides for the continuation and deepening of cooperation, exchange of experience and interaction between the regulatory authorities of Ukraine and the United States on issues of regulation and supervision of the safety and security of nuclear facilities and radioactive materials, the application of safeguards, and the environmental impact of nuclear facilities and radioactive materials," the statement said.
As noted, the Memorandum envisages joint programs in a number of important areas in the field of nuclear and radiation safety. In particular, it is about:
- studying the US practice of assessing the safety of NPP sites, in particular the placement of small modular reactors, in order to revise and update the relevant regulatory requirements of Ukraine;
- research on the safety of U.S. reactor installations using advanced technologies that could potentially be applied in Ukraine;
- development of a methodology for assessing the safety of packaging sets for the transportation of radioactive materials;
- support SNRI activities in terms of enhancing emergency preparedness and response;
- strengthening the SNRI infrastructure to ensure the performance of regulatory functions under martial law;
- modernization of the system of accounting for ionizing radiation sources;
- studying the US NRC regulatory experience in decommissioning uranium mining and processing facilities.
"The signed Memorandum is a logical continuation of the active cooperation that is currently being implemented between the US and Ukrainian nuclear regulators. The United States of America is our reliable and strategic partner with vast experience in the use of nuclear energy and nuclear and radiation safety: from the development of new reactor designs to spent nuclear fuel management and decommissioning of uranium mines. I am confident that this experience will be useful both for the SNRIU and for the Ukrainian nuclear power industry in general," Korikov said.
