FG begins review of nuclear power plants’ legislation


Nigeria’s quest to generate electricity from nuclear sources gained steam on Monday, with the inauguration of a committee to review the legal framework guiding the implementation of the national nuclear power programme.

Speaking in Abuja, the Director-General, Nigeria Atomic Energy Agency, Dr. Erepamo Osaisai, explained that the existing legal framework was signed into law in 1976, although Nigeria only initiated efforts to utilise nuclear resources to generate electricity in 2006.

According to him, the 32-year-old legal framework is in dire need of review to make it comprehensive and up to date with the challenges of the time.

Osaisai explained that having impressed the International Atomic Energy Agency with its performance on the first phase of the programme, Nigeria needed to develop an appropriate legislative framework, which would guide the whole gamut of the country’s foray into nuclear power programme.

He noted that Nigeria was now ready to begin work on the second stage of nuclear power development, which would entail infrastructure and manpower development.

Members of the committee were drawn from the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, Power Holding Company of Nigeria; a representative of the Inspector-General of Police, Director-General of the State Security Service, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Environment.

Osaisai charged the committee members to review the existing law and incorporate specific requirements on the safety of nuclear installations, radiation protection, emergency preparedness, planning, response and transport.

Culled from www.punchontheweb.com