November-December, 2009 Planning Commission to Support PAEC's Self-reliance Plans in Nuclear Power Generation: Sardar Aseff Ahmad Ali To reap the immense potential of nuclear energy, a clean and cost competitive source of electricity, Planning Commission will support Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) to enhance its indigenous technical facilities for the manufacturing and installation of nuclear power plants. This was stated by Federal Minister and Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Sardar Aseff Ahmed Ali on the eve of his visit to Chashma Nuclear Power Plants on November 7, 2009. PAEC plans, to install more nuclear power plants to contribute to the pressing electricity requirements of the country, are well-founded and its increasing indigenous capability in this Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Sardar Aseff Ahmad Ali inaugurates site for the establishment domain deserves our full support and of Education Centre at Chashma barrage. we will provide all what is possible to From (L to R) Dr. Ansar Parvez, Chairman, PAEC, Sardar Aseff Ahmad Ali and Dr. Samar Mubarakmand, this organization, which has an Member (S&T) Planning Commission . excellent track record of delivering what ever was assigned to it, he said. operating well and PAEC is moving the PAEC in nuclear power generation forward to install many more nuclear and cited the example of KANUPP There is huge reservoir of technical power plants in the coming years. which is being run through indigenous know-how available with PAEC which capabilities since 1976 when the can be utilized for socio-economic uplift In future nuclear power projects, the supplier withdrew all support and world of the country. We need to strengthen indigenous capability is to play an placed embargoes on us. this center of excellence for a increasing role. We already have prosperous Pakistan, Sardar Aseff workshops and facilities in place to this Deputy Chairman, Planning stated. end and we are working to enhance this Commission undertook a detailed visit capacity all along, Dr. Parvez informed. of C-1 and C-2 projects. C-1 is He said, due to global warming caused connected to the grid since September by fossil fuel based electricity plants, Chairman said that the technical 2000 with an excellent availability nuclear energy as clean source has facilities and know-how available with factor and under construction C-2 is to staged resurgence and it is heartening the PAEC is at the disposal of the be operational by mid 2011. to know that PAEC is poised to take a Planning Commission or any other lead in nuclear generation. national institution to make use of the Deputy Chairman, Planning same for the benefit of the country. Commission also inaugurated a site for Speaking on the occasion, Chairman development of educational facilities PAEC, Dr. Ansar Parvez said that Earlier in his presentation, DG, up to university level for the needs of Pakistan's nuclear power plants are Chashma, Mr. Safder Habib dwelt at nuclear power complex at Chashma length on the self-reliance program of barrage. 1 Sardar Aseff Ahmad Ali, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission andDr. Samar Mubarakm and , Member (S&T) Planning Commission along with Dr. Ansar Parvez, Chairman, PAEC and otherPAEC officials visiting under construction Chashma Nuclear Power Plant (C-2) . Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission issues policy on Nuclear Safety A. BACKGROUND B. STATEMENT OF THE POLICY provided for safe operation and safety upgrades of operating facilities, and for Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission It is the policy of Pakistan Atomic safe design of new facilities. PAEC is (PAEC) is the owner and operator of a Energy Commission (PAEC) that the committed to ensuring that an number of nuclear facilities which general public is protected such that no acceptable level of nuclear safety is include nuclear power plants, research individual bears significant additional accorded the highest priority and is not reactors, nuclear medical centers, risk to health and safety from the compromised for any reason. nuclear agricultural and biotechnology operation of a PAEC nuclear facility centers, industrial units using above the risks to which the members C. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE of the general population are normally radioactive sources, research and POLICY exposed. PAEC is committed to taking training centers etc. PAEC being the appropriate steps so that occupational To implement this nuclear safety policy, licensee of nuclear facilities has overall radiation exposure to personnel PAEC undertakes to establish safety responsibility for the fulfillment of safety working in its nuclear facilities is objectives, effective management, requirements for its nuclear activities. maintained as low as reasonably safety oversight and assessment The purpose of this document is to achievable (ALARA). PAEC is also programs, decommissioning and establish and declare the basic nuclear committed to achieving excellent radioactive waste management safety policy from which specific safety performance in all activities important to programs, emergency preparedness rules, procedures and other safety and to striving for improvements plans, physical protection plans and requirements follow. However, it is in safety related equipment and manpower development programs. appropriate to mention that PAEC has practices wherever it is reasonably PAEC also undertakes that adherence practicable to do so. PAEC undertakes to safety regulations and standards, been fulfilling the safety objectives that necessary financial and material establishment of an adequate safety even prior to this formal policy resources as well as qualified and culture and information to public about statement. trained manpower continue to be nuclear emergencies are ensured. 2 1. Safety Objectives Assurance of safety is not to be plans for nuclear facilities that are compromised to achieve production routinely tested and cover the activities or research objectives. to be carried out in the event of an i) PAEC is committed to taking all emergency. For new nuclear reasonably practical steps to installations such plans will be prepared achieve the following two safety 3. Safety Regulations and Standards and reviewed before shifting nuclear objectives: materials to the site. PAEC undertakes PAEC is committed to compliance to provide information to the public a) The risk of prompt fatality to an with national safety regulations and about nuclear and radiological average individual in the vicinity of a adherence to applicable national emergencies in a timely, open and PAEC nuclear facility, as a result of standards for its licensed nuclear transparent manner. PAEC also an accident in the facility, should not facilities. undertakes to arrange for raising the exceed 0.1 % of the sum of prompt level of public awareness about the fatalities due to other accidents to 4. Oversight andAssessment of risks implied in appropriate context of which the members of the public are the benefits of nuclear technology. generally exposed. Safety b) The risk of cancer fatalities to PAEC undertakes to ensure that the 7. Physical Protection population in the area of a PAEC managements of its nuclear facilities nuclear facility that might result have adequate capability for monitoring PAEC is committed to taking from the operation of the facility and assessing their safety appropriate measures for ensuring should not exceed 0.1 % of the sum performance. PAEC is committed to physical protection of nuclear materials of all cancer fatalities due to all establishing and maintaining a and radioactive sources. It is also other causes. capability at the corporate level, undertaken that adequate recovery independent of the management of its procedures are adopted if control is lost It is appropriate to mention that these nuclear facilities, to monitor and over such materials or sources. safety objectives are not substitutes for oversee all aspects of safety. compliance with regulations. Independent oversight is not a substitute for the responsibility of the 8. Manpower Development ii) In striving to realize these objectives management of a nuclear facility. It PAEC is committed to designing, serves as an independent source of PAEC is committed to ensuring that its constructing, operating and information for senior management. nuclear facilities are staffed with decommissioning its nuclear Independent reviews and assessments adequately qualified personnel at all facilities with: performed by national regulatory body times. Potential hazards associated and international expert organizations with nuclear operations dictate that are also beneficial in the fulfillment of PAEC personnel possess necessary ? Appropriate barriers and engineered safety objectives. technical competence, commitment, safety features to prevent or discipline and high standards of minimize potential radioactive 5. Decommissioning and Waste professional and personal excellence. releases. Management PAEC undertakes to ensure that its ? training institutes and other Procedural controls to mitigate the establishments have the ability to effects of potential releases. PAEC undertakes to establish aging recruit, train and qualify personnel for management programs at its nuclear specific job positions. PAEC is iii) Proposed modifications to existing power plants for maintaining the level of committed to allocating adequate facilities to achieve these safety. PAEC is committed to carrying resources for technical training of its objectives shall be prioritized based out decommissioning