The Nuclear and Radiation Safety Center plays a key role in the fight against illicit trafficking of nuclear and radioactive materials in the Republic of Armenia. In cooperation with the Armenian Nuclear Regulatory Authority, National Security Service, RA Police and State Revenue Committee the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Center conducts nuclear forensic expertise to characterize nuclear and radioactive materials found in the course of combating illicit trafficking. The Nuclear and Radiation Safety Center, in combating illicit trafficking of nuclear and radioactive materials, also works to search for and recovery of nuclear and radioactive materials outside regulatory control in the Republic of Armenia to increase the level of protection of the public from the radiation exposure risks. The Nuclear and Radiation Safety Center in collaboration with the International Science and Technology Center (ISTC) implements the ISTC-AM-2546 project “Enhancement of Nuclear Forensics Capabilities in Armenia”. Main goal of the project is the improvement of the Armenian legal framework for sustainable and continuous development of nuclear forensics expertise as well as the promotion of effective cooperation between the bodies involved in combating illicit trafficking of nuclear and radioactive materials.
On 30 November 2022 NRSC successfully passed re-certification audit of its Quality Management System that was conducted in accordance with the requirements of ISO 9001:2015 standard. This certification underlined the commitment of NRSC management and all teams to having a sustainable and traceable Quality Management System. It demonstrated high level of adherence to the quality standards in performing processes and procedures, which is undoubtedly integral to the company successful operation, as well as high and stable quality of works performed and services provided. The audit was carried out by the TUV Rheinland representative office in Armenia.
The main objective of the workshop was to present to the participants the IAEA competence management approaches, covering the processes related to the identifying competence needs, assessing existing competencies through gap analysis and designing competence development strategies to close identified gaps. The main emphasis was placed on presenting to the participants the tool on Systematic Assessment of the Regulatory Competence Needs (SARCoN) that was specially developed by the IAEA for the use by the Regulatory Bodies and with some adaptation could also be used by their Technical Support Organizations, and practicing on the use of the tool through implementing proposed exercises under supervision of the IAEA and international experts.
The representative of radiation safety group took part in EU CBRN CoE P67 “Strengthening CBRN Waste Management Capabilities in South-East and Eastern European Countries” final project meeting held in Tirana during 7-8 September 2022. The main results and outputs of the regional project, as well as possibility of new follow-up regional projects were discussed.
During the workshop, the organizers presented the requirements of the IAEA related to norms and norm industries, the methods of measuring norm samples, the preparation of samples and the analysis and interpretation of measurement results. Participating countries were provided with norm samples in order to conduct measurements in participating countries for the intercomparison exercise.
The main issues on licensing of construction and operation of RW treatment and storage facilities were discussed. The drafts of «Management of disused sealed radioactive sources and other institutional radioactive waste» and «Monitoring of Radioactive Waste Management Facilities» documents were finalized. International experts proposed to develop a road map for the establishment of RW management organization in Armenia and to consider the establishment of such an organization based on the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Center, taking into account their scientific and technical capabilities and abilities.
On March 21, 2022 NRSC participated on a workshop hosted by the Armenian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (hereinafter referred to as ANRA) on nuclear security awareness raising for decision makers in Armenia, and from 22-25 March Integrated Nuclear Security Support Plan (INSSP) Review Mission for Armenia. Both events were conducted in a hybrid format. The INSSP review team consisted of the IAEA staff and experts from Greece and USA, who attended the event face-to-face, and one expert from the USA joined the events remotely. Representatives from the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of the RA, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the RA, the Ministry of Defense of the RA, the Police of the RA, the National Security Service of the RA, the State Revenue Committee of the RA and, the Armenian NPP, ANRA and Nuclear and Radiation Safety Center attended the events. During the workshop on nuclear security awareness raising for decision makers in Armenia on 21 March the IAEA staff made an overview of IAEA Nuclear Security Programme, including the INSSP and NUSIMS, explaining in detail their importance. The Armenian representatives made a presentation on the nuclear security in Armenia, discussed existing challenges and opportunities in this field, made an overview on Armenia’s INSSP implementation. The purpose of the INSSP mission conducted from 22 to 25 March was to review and update Armenia’s Integrated Nuclear Security Support Plan, to assess achievements and identify and prioritize nuclear security needs to be addressed in the country. As a result, Armenia’s INSSP and its Implementation Plan covering the period of 2023-2027 have been updated.
Representative of NRSC participated in Technical Meeting on «International Safeguards in the Design of Radioactive Waste Management Programmes», organized by IAEA in VIC premises from 21 to 25 March, 2022. The purpose of the event was to review the draft Nuclear Energy Series publication provisionally entitled International Safeguards in the Design of Radioactive Waste Management Programmes. The event served as a forum to review the main text of the publication, to contribute to and review the technical examples related to Member States’ experience.
NRSC is actively carrying out environmental radiometric measurements of mining sites in Armenia. The purpose of the radiation monitoring is to find out the radiation situation in the mining site. For the measurement of the natural background of gamma radiation, a mobile system for recording the gamma radiation with the possibility of recording the geographical location coordinates of the measuring points is used. As a result of monitoring the natural background of gamma radiation, sampling of the surface areas were the highest values of the radiation is recorded are implemented for research by gamma spectral analysis․
The first stage of establishing a monitoring network for monitoring the radiation situation in Armenia is going on successfully. Stationary radiation monitoring stations are being installed by NRSC. With the support of the EU, it is planned to install a total of 32 stationary stations in Armenia, two spectrometric stations in the areas adjacent to the Metsamor NPP, and a number of settlements. The monitoring stations will transmit information on the radiation situation to the Armenian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (ANRA) 24/7 online.
