Nordic nuclear regulators seek to enhance cooperation

At their annual meeting in Reykjavik, Iceland, in August 2023, the directors of the Nordic radiation and nuclear safety authorities decided to explore possible common strategic priorities for Nordic authorities in the current context to determine if and how such priorities may be reflected in existing cooperation forums and ways of working. This task was assigned to an ad hoc working group - the Nordic Strategy Group - representing all Nordic nuclear and radiation safety authorities. The authorities are: the Danish Emergency Management Agency (DEMA), the Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (DSA), the Icelandic Radiation Protection Institute (GR), Denmark's National Institute of Radiation Protection (SIS), the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority (SSM) and Finland's Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK).

The working group focused on aspects of cooperation that are likely to be particularly affected by the change in the authorities' operating environment resulting from the current geopolitical situation and the increased interest in nuclear power. It has now published its cooperation strategy - titled The Nordic Strategy Group Report: Enhancing Nordic Cooperation in Nuclear and Radiation Safety.

"There is a long tradition of successful cooperation among Nordic countries sustained by the historical, cultural and geographical proximity of the countries," the report says. "This tradition also carries through to the Nordic radiation and nuclear safety authorities, which have well established cooperation on multilateral and bilateral bases." 

However, it notes that "the current operational environment of the Nordic radiation and nuclear safety authorities is very dynamic and changing rapidly. These changes are driven by the growing energy needs, connected to the green transition and a potential revival of nuclear energy, as well by the changes in the global and regional security environment leading to the emergence of new threats and a need for deeper regional cooperation."

The report contains 13 recommendations for further developing cooperation. The strategy divides these further goals into five main areas: knowledge sharing and joint training on permits and supervision of nuclear installations and materials; increased information exchange within radiation protection; expanded cooperation on preparedness for radiological and nuclear incidents; strengthened Nordic cooperation on international support for, among other things, Ukraine; and increased Nordic cooperation on visibility and joint Nordic influence in international cooperation forums.

"Implementation of the recommendations is suggested to be executed through the authorities' regular work and in different Nordic cooperation forums and working groups," the report says.
 
In the coming months, the Nordic authorities will prepare an action plan that will propose concrete implementation of the report's recommendations.

"Energy policy in Finland and Sweden encourages the construction of new nuclear power plants," STUK said. "In Norway, a government-appointed nuclear power working group is currently preparing a report on nuclear power. The topics are also part of the public debate in Denmark, where both the political climate and public attitudes towards nuclear power have changed due to the war in Ukraine. All Nordic authorities are challenged to prepare for future developments, including the development of regulation, supervisory practices and expertise."

"The Nordic countries need to have the capacity to deal with serious radiological accidents," GR said. "They need to have the capacity to measure the effects, to be able to quickly take appropriate safety measures and to communicate information to the public. They also need to have the knowledge and ability to accept foreign assistance, as each country has limited human resources and equipment to deal with major radiological accidents."

Article researched and written by WNN's Warwick Pipe