Press release archive 2017
Press release following the article “Radioactive pollution: Russia raises the hypothesis of the destruction of a satellite as a possible cause of the pollution”, published by the Agerpres news agency on 11 December 2017
Press release of 07.12.2017 regarding the controlled shutdown of Unit 2 of Cernavodă NPP
Information note on the detection of Ruthenium-106 in the air on the territory of Romania during the period 29 September – 03 October 2017.
Romanian Information Report (English - Romanian)
Press release
From 9 to 16 October 2017, the “Integrated Regulatory Review Service” (IRRS) review mission, conducted under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, took place at CNCAN. The mission, a follow-up mission, is intended to verify the progress made by CNCAN since the last IRRS review mission, which took place in 2011.
The international team of experts that carried out the review, whose expertise and experience proved to be of real benefit, was composed of 14 specialists, representatives of the IAEA and of the regulatory authorities of Canada, the Russian Federation, France, Germany, Ireland and Hungary. The IRRS mission was led by an expert from the regulatory authority of Canada, and the representative of the European Commission took part as an observer.
The IRRS follow-up mission was intended to assess how the recommendations / suggestions issued in 2011 had been implemented; these addressed the following areas: nuclear safety, radiological safety, transport safety, safe management of radioactive waste, safety of radioactive sources, and preparedness and response to radiological/nuclear emergencies. The IRRS process seeks to achieve these objectives by considering both technical and regulatory policy issues against the IAEA safety standards and, where appropriate, good practices.
For the purposes of the review, the IRRS team held discussions with the President and the staff of CNCAN, and recognized and commended the effectiveness of the regulatory system, the competence of the staff, the transparency and openness in relations with the institutions in the field and with the licence holders, as well as the effective integration of the two important concepts: nuclear safety and nuclear security.
In its discussion with the management of the General Secretariat of the Government, the IRRS team commended the support given by the Government of Romania for fulfilling and implementing the recommendations and suggestions made during the previous mission. The team of experts also commended the support given to CNCAN through the approval by the Government of Romania of the Law amending and supplementing Law no. 111/1996 on the safe deployment, regulation, licensing and control of nuclear activities, which regulates, among other things, the provision of sufficient financial and human resources for CNCAN, so that, through its work, it contributes to achieving an adequate level of nuclear safety and security, ensuring the appropriate protection of the population and of the environment.
Following the discussions held and the review carried out, 30 of the total of 34 recommendations and all 18 suggestions were declared closed, and 8 new recommendations and 4 suggestions were issued. These are aimed at improving regulatory activity in Romania and making it more efficient, are addressed both to CNCAN and to the responsible governmental authorities, and refer mainly to the development and implementation of policies and strategies in the nuclear field and to the provision of sufficient financial and human resources for CNCAN. The other areas in which recommendations and suggestions were addressed refer mainly to: implementation of the National Strategy for Nuclear Safety and Security, retaining and attracting experienced staff, improving the radiation sources database, radioactive waste management, and preparedness and response to nuclear/radiological emergency situations.
CNCAN recognizes the importance of the suggestions and recommendations of the IRRS mission and will take measures to ensure all the conditions for their implementation.
On 10 October this year, the President of CNCAN, Mr Rodin Traicu, gave an interview to Mr Sean Lyngaas, a correspondent journalist for “The New York Times” and the “BBC”.
Mr Sean Lyngaas is in Romania to carry out a study on how our country ensures the protection of nuclear installations against cyber threats. The main topic was the way in which CNCAN, in its capacity as regulatory body, has established the legal framework and the general requirements for the protection of the systems of nuclear installations.
Press release
From 24 to 29 September 2017, the 39th meeting of the Working Group on Waste and Decommissioning (WGWD), the working group for the harmonization of regulations on the safe management of radioactive waste and decommissioning, of the Western European Nuclear Regulators Association (WENRA), is taking place in Kiev.
At the Kiev meeting, hosted by the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine, CNCAN, a member of the WENRA-WGWD group, presented the self-assessment reports on the harmonization of the safety requirements for the decommissioning of nuclear and radiological installations and of the safety requirements for the disposal of radioactive waste with the safety requirements for decommissioning and, respectively, the safety requirements for the disposal of radioactive waste developed within the WENRA-WGWD group. Following the review of the two self-assessment reports by the other members of the WENRA-WGWD group, it was concluded that the safety requirements developed by CNCAN have been harmonized with the safety requirements developed within WENRA-WGWD.
Also during the meeting, the stakeholders' comments on the report on the safety requirements for radioactive waste processing developed within the WENRA-WGWD group will be discussed, and the activities for the group's future meetings will be established.
http://www.snrc.gov.ua/nuclear/uk/publish/article/375729
Press release
From 18 to 22 September this year, the 61st regular session of the IAEA General Conference is taking place at the headquarters of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna.The Conference is the highest decision-making forum of the IAEA, attended by representatives of all Member States.The discussions will cover topics such as nuclear safety, nuclear safeguards and technical cooperation.CNCAN is represented at this event by a delegation led by Mr Rodin TRAICU, President, and will also take part in a series of bilateral meetings with the heads of the regulatory bodies of the USA, Canada and Argentina and with representatives of the IAEA Department of Technical Cooperation.
Press release
On 7 June 2017, the President of CNCAN took part, in Paris, in the ceremony marking the accession of Romania and Argentina to the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).The Romanian delegation attending this ceremony was led by Mr Sorin Grindeanu, Prime Minister, and was composed of: Mr Viorel Ștefan, Minister of Public Finance, Mr Rodin Traicu, President of CNCAN, Mr Horia Grama, President of the Nuclear and Radioactive Waste Agency (ANDR), Mr Radu Puchiu, State Secretary in the General Secretariat of the Government and national coordinator for relations with the OECD, Mr Luca Niculescu, Ambassador of Romania to the French Republic, Ms Elena Popescu, Director General in the Ministry of Energy, and representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.On behalf of the NEA/OECD, the event was attended by Mr José Ángel Gurría, Secretary-General of the OECD, and Mr William D. Magwood, Director-General of the NEA.In his address, the Prime Minister stressed that NEA/OECD membership gives the nuclear sector in Romania access to the best practices, statistics and research, as well as to valuable expertise in this field.Romania thus joins the 31 NEA member states, countries that have nuclear programmes.CNCAN takes part in the work of the following NEA committees, contributing its expertise to the documents drawn up within them: the Committee on the Safety of Nuclear Installations; the Committee on Nuclear Regulatory Activities; the Committee on Radiological Protection and Public Health; and the Nuclear Law Committee.CNCAN made an important contribution to the process of accession to the NEA, a contribution that was also commended by Mr Magwood, Director-General of the NEA, during his meeting with the President of CNCAN. Mr Magwood thus commended the effort that CNCAN is making to develop and implement primary and secondary legislation in the field of the regulation, licensing and control of nuclear activities in Romania. In this context, Mr Magwood accepted the invitation to visit Romania in August this year.
Press conference
Images from the press conference given by the President of CNCAN, Mr Rodin TRAICU, on 23.05.2017
Press release
From 27 to 31 March 2017, the national workshop on Strategies for the management of contaminated sites that lead to increased radiation exposure of the population is taking place.
The workshop is organized by the National Commission for Nuclear Activities Control, in collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency. The workshop addresses the long-term risks to the population associated with the existence of contaminated sites, the way in which they are monitored, the strategy for managing contaminated sites, and the stakeholders involved in implementing the strategies.
Press release
On 3 March 2017, CNCAN organized the meeting to review the draft regulatory act on the National Radon Action Plan. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Health,
the Babeș-Bolyai University, the Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest, the Ministry of Labour, the “Horia Hulubei” National Institute of Physics and Nuclear Engineering (IFIN-HH), the Ministry of Research, MDRAP.
Press release
Re: The article on the high level of radiation at the National Geology Museum, in “Gazeta Sporturilor”, on 14.02.2017
Following the publication in “Gazeta Sporturilor” of the article “Radiation far above the permitted doses was measured 100 m from the crowd in Victoriei Square! A public health report is being hidden by the management of the Geology Museum”, dated 14.02.2017, we inform you that, following the measurements carried out on site, it was found that in the areas investigated (collection rooms, hallways, areas adjacent to the building, basement, inner courtyard of the museum) the ambient dose rate is within the range of variation of the natural radiation background and there is no radiological risk to members of the public, whether visitors or local residents, or to the museum's employees.
The radon concentration measured in the same rooms is several times lower than the average value measured in Romania to date.
As regards the storage area for the fossil samples (mammoth fragments) in the inner courtyard of the museum, it does not pose a hazard; the measurements carried out by CNCAN specialists showed that at approximately 1.5 – 2 m from the surface of the mammoth fragments the radioactivity is within the limits of the natural radiation background. It should be noted that the area in question is not included in the visiting route for the public and is not a workplace for the museum's employees. By way of example, the level of exposure during an aeroplane flight is 30 times higher than the natural radiation background, and for a chest X-ray the level is 20,000 times higher than the natural radiation background.
A special case is the bunker located in the museum courtyard, where the radiation level is higher, but access to this place is restricted, the bunker is secured and the public has no access. Around it, at the surface, the radiation level is at the level of the natural background.
The erroneous interpretation in the public sphere was caused by the publication of the data in the English system of measurement and their interpretation in the Romanian system of measurement.
The radiation level was measured by CNCAN specialists and is within normal limits, values at which the public and the museum's staff are not subject to any imminent risk of irradiation, their health not being affected.
Press release
From 28.02 to 01.03.2017, the closing conference of the Regional Excellence Project on Regulatory Capacity Building in Nuclear and Radiological Safety, Emergency Preparedness and Response in Romania, financed through the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014, is taking place at the Intercontinental Hotel, Bucharest. The project partners were the National Commission for Nuclear Activities Control (CNCAN), the Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority (NRPA) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The objective of this project was to enhance the capabilities of the nuclear regulatory authority of Romania, CNCAN, in eight specific functional areas, namely: nuclear safety analyses; the integrated management system and knowledge management; inspections; the safety and security of the transport and transit of radioactive and nuclear materials on the territory of Romania; emergency preparedness and response; ionizing radiation sources; the regulation of the management of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel and of decommissioning activities; and nuclear safeguards activities. During the conference the main results achieved under the project are presented, and there will be exchanges of experience and discussions on the challenges and lessons learned during the implementation of this project.
Press release
Press release
From 28.02 to 01.03.2017, the closing conference of the Regional Excellence Project on Regulatory Capacity Building in Nuclear and Radiological Safety, Emergency Preparedness and Response in Romania, financed through the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014, is taking place at the Intercontinental Hotel, Bucharest.
The project partners were the National Commission for Nuclear Activities Control (CNCAN), the Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority (NRPA) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The objective of this project was to enhance the capabilities of the nuclear regulatory authority of Romania, CNCAN, in eight specific functional areas, namely: nuclear safety analyses; the integrated management system and knowledge management; inspections; the safety and security of the transport and transit of radioactive and nuclear materials on the territory of Romania; emergency preparedness and response; ionizing radiation sources; the regulation of the management of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel and of decommissioning activities; and nuclear safeguards activities.
During the conference the main results achieved under the project are presented, and there will be exchanges of experience and discussions on the challenges and lessons learned during the implementation of this project.
Press releaseFrom 20 to 24 February, a team of specialists from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory was present in Bucharest where, together with CNCAN specialists, they began installing the equipment intended for the implementation of the National Pilot System for monitoring the transport of fresh nuclear fuel, spent nuclear fuel and radioactive sources.To carry out this pilot project, CNCAN, in partnership with the Special Telecommunications Service (STS), is cooperating with the United States Department of Energy (DoE) through the Global Material Security programme, a programme implemented by specialists from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the USA.
Press release
On 14 February 2017, at the CNCAN headquarters in Bucharest, 14 Libertății Blvd., District 5, a new debate took place on Order of the President of CNCAN no. 149 of 05.08.2015, published in the Official Gazette of Romania, Part I, no. 626 of 18.08.2015, on the approval of the requirements for the authorization of the handling activity and for the extension of the limits of authorizations for the handling of radiological installations.
Press release
From 13 to 17 February this year, at the CNCAN headquarters at 14 Libertății Blvd., the “Consultancy Meeting to review and develop final draft of the ELI-NP licensing process and guide” is taking place, which is part of CNCAN Subproject 6 “Enhancing CNCAN capabilities in the field of ionizing radiation sources”, included in the “Regional Excellence Project on Regulatory Capacity Building in Nuclear and Radiological Safety, Emergency Preparedness and Response in Romania”.
Press release
On 14 February 2017 at 12:00, at the CNCAN headquarters in Bucharest, 14 Libertății Blvd., District 5, a new debate is taking place on Order of the President of CNCAN no. 149 of 05.08.2015, published in the Official Gazette of Romania, Part I, no. 626 of 18.08.2015, on the approval of the requirements for the authorization of the handling activity and for the extension of the limits of authorizations for the handling of radiological installations.
Press release
On 9 February 2017 at 9:00, at the CNCAN headquarters in Bucharest, 4 Lt. Zalic Street, District 6, the public debate on the following draft regulations is taking place:- Norms on the requirements for the authorization of radioactive material transport activities
- Norms on the development of the Programme for protection against ionizing radiation for transport activities
- Norms on the development of the Radiological Safety Report for the Radioactive Material Transport Package
Press release
From 6 to 10 February 2017, a CNCAN delegation is taking part in the technical meeting of representatives of the nuclear regulatory authorities of the countries operating CANDU-type nuclear power plants, organized by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The CNCAN delegation comprises Mr Gabril Petre, President of CNCAN, Mr Cantemir Ciurea, Director of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Division, and Ms Madalina Tronea, Coordinator of the Nuclear Regulations and Standards Unit.
The purpose of the meeting is the mutual exchange of information on the development of regulations, of review and inspection procedures and of licensing practices, on the results of nuclear safety research programmes, on significant events from operating experience, and on the design modifications implemented at nuclear power plants, including the measures to improve nuclear safety at CANDU-type plants in the light of the lessons learned from the Fukushima accident, both by regulatory authorities and by operating organizations.
The topics discussed at the meeting include: the review of severe accident management guidelines; the review of the implementation of emergency filtered containment venting systems; ageing management and long-term operation of nuclear power plants; the harmonization of the requirements and methods for the verification of probabilistic nuclear safety assessments; the regulatory requirements for real-time access to critical nuclear safety parameters in emergency situations.
The CNCAN delegation is taking part in the meeting alongside representatives of the nuclear regulatory authorities of Argentina, Canada, the Republic of Korea, the People's Republic of China, India and Pakistan, and representatives of the IAEA. The active exchange of information and experience on the specific aspects relevant to the regulation and operation of CANDU-type nuclear power plants contributes to the improvement of CNCAN's regulatory, licensing and control activities, taking into account the latest standards and good practices at international level.
The NEA delegation is making this visit as part of a mission to assess the institutions in our country with responsibilities in the nuclear field, following Romania's submission of its application to become a member state of the NEA/OECD.
As part of the mission, on 3 February 2017 the NEA team is holding a meeting with the representatives of CNCAN, led by Mr Daniel Ionescu, Secretary General, with a view to assessing the activity of the nuclear regulatory body of Romania.
Press release
From 23 to 27 January, the National Commission for Nuclear Activities Control (CNCAN), in collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna (IAEA) and the Babeș-Bolyai University (UBB) of Cluj-Napoca, is holding the national workshop on "Implementation of the Basic Safety Standards with regard to public exposure to radon and to radionuclides in building materials".
National Workshop on Implementation of Basic Safety Standards on Public Exposure due to Radon and Building Materials 23-27 January 2017, Cluj-Napoca.
