ROLE OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION FOR EFFECTIVENESS OF NATIONAL REGULATORS

摘要

The design, construction and operation of nuclear power plants, though a national activity, have transboundary and international repercussions. Therefore, activities related to nuclear safety of nuclear power plants attract international interest. In this regard, agencies such as the IAEA have played a very constructive role. The paper examines the role international standards play along with international cooperation to enhance effectiveness of national regulators. Such national regulators usually belong to countries that import nuclear power plants and may lack an advanced industrial infrastructure at par with other exporting countries. International cooperation is, therefore, needed to assure an acceptably high level of safety keeping in view the economy, public acceptance of risks, vendor ease, utility benefit and regulatory effectiveness. Furthermore, international standards — which may be design or fabrication or installation standards — are prepared by large national and/or multinational groups of knowledgeable experts. However, these standards based on knowledge and experiences appear to be information for the regulators of a nuclear power plant importing country. International cooperation is needed to re-transform this information into knowledge at the user end. The paper includes a brief description of such cooperation under an IAEA technical cooperation project entitled Applicability of IAEA Nuclear Safety Standards for NPP in Pakistan-(PAK/9/29), which is an example of international cooperation in the use of international standards to enhance the regulatory effectiveness of the national regulator in Pakistan. The role international organizations play in helping regulators become more effective is also highlighted which is necessary in an expanding international market for nuclear power plants and achieving the common global goal of providing affordable, secure, sustainable and safe electricity without undue hazards to man and his environment.