Vienna-based International Nuclear Safety Group (INSAG) has launched a multinational design approval process for the safety and security of buyer countries.
MUMBAI: Anticipating a mammoth global nuclear power programme in coming decades, the Vienna-based International Nuclear Safety Group (INSAG) has launched a multinational design approval process for the safety and security of buyer countries from the Nuclear Suppliers Group.
"Instead of each country going through a lengthy process of design safety and security approval for a nuclear power plant while buying from the NSG, INSAG has taken the initiative to have a multinational design approval process," Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) chairman SK Sharma, also a member of INSAG, said.
This process will help save time and enable multinational responsibility for safety and security of nuclear reactors and equipment.
INSAG was formed in 1986 just before an accident at the Chernobyl nuclear plant as an advisory body for the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Two years ago, current Director General Mohamed ElBaradei asked INSAG to retain its acronym but changed its advisory role to him for all sections of society including the general public.
Sharma said the National Regulatory Authority will then oversee design approval for finer details according to country-specific requirements and approve or suggest further modification of nuclear plants.
Asked about the economics of INSAG, Sharma said: "Those things will be worked out but the first thing is safety and security."
Members of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) have already begun implementing multinational design approval for safety and security, he said.
Asked if such a set-up would apply if India had to buy reactors from various suppliers' groups once the Indo-US civil nuclear deal went through, he said, "I do not see any problem in that."
INSAG is asking all nuclear power producing countries to have a strong and independent regulatory system in place and to harmonise it with IAEA's safety and security guidelines.
"India already has a strong regulatory body and once the multinational design approval is given through INSAG and when the deal comes through, the finer details of country-specific requirements to be given by AERB will not be a problem," Sharma said.
INSAG has 21 publications under the IAEA banner and two independent publications on stakeholder involvement in nuclear issues, he said.
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