Syrian fossil resources are limited to oil and natural gas (NG). The proven geological oil reserves are estimated to almost 24 billion barrel of oil equivalent (Bboe) of which 6.9 Bboe are extractable. Almost 4.3 Bboe have been already extracted up to 2003 and the remaining oil reserves are estimated to about 2.6 Bboe. The proven geological reserve of NG in Syria is estimated to 612 billion cubic meter (Bm3) of which 371 Bm3 are extractable. 60 Bm3 have been produced up to 2003 and the remaining reserve is about 311 Bm3. Table 3 presents the amounts of proven energy sources.

TABLE 3. ESTIMATED AVAILABLE ENERGY SOURCES

	Estimated available energy sources
	Fossil Fuels			Nuclear	Renewables
	Solid	Liquid	Gas	Uranium	Hydro	Other Renewable
Total amount in specific units*	NA	327	285	NA	3
Total amount in Exajoule (EJ)	NA	13.69	10.62	NA	0.01

* Solid, Liquid: Million tons; Gas: Billion m3; Uranium: Metric tons; Hydro, Renewable: TW

Sources:

Energy Balance, 2005

MOM, 2009. Ministry of Oil and Mineral Resources, Reserves and expected annual productions of oil and natural gas, official letter to prime minister, Damascus (in Arabic)

The main indicators of Syrian energy system related to energy consumption and production are presented in Table 4.

TABLE 4. ENERGY STATISTICS (EJ)



	1970	1980	1990	2000	2005	Average annual growth rate (%) 1990-2005
Energy consumption**
- Total			0.33	0.8	1.04	8.0%
- Solids***
- Liquids			0.26	0.45	0.67	6.5%
- Gases			0.04	0.31	0.32	14.9%
- Nuclear
- Hydro			0.02	0.02	0.04	4.7%
- Other Renewables			0.01	0.01	0.02	4.7%
Energy production
- Total			0.93	1.5	1.15	1.4%
- Solids***
- Liquids			0.87	1.2	0.79	-0.6%
- Gases			0.04	0.3	0.3	14.4%
- Nuclear
- Hydro			0.02	0.02	0.04	4.7%
- Other Renewables			0.01	0.01	0.02	4.7%
Net import (Import - Export)
- Total			-0.6	-0.7	-0.11	-10.7%

* Latest available data

** Energy consumption = Primary energy consumption + Net import (Import - Export) of secondary energy.

*** Solid fuels include coal, lignite

Source: Energy Balance (1990-2000-2005).

Fig.1 Energy Consumption 2005

Fig. 2 Energy Production 2005

The overall target of Syrian energy policy aims at ensuring supply security by providing energy services to all segments of society at cost effective and affordable prices appropriate to Syrian economic conditions. To accomplish this goal Syrian energy policy is faced with three main challenges, namely expanding the gas market, sustaining the oil production and developing country’s power capacity. To manage these challenges following general implementation measures are considered:

• Reducing the technical losses and illegal consumption,

• Supporting the introduction of energy saving and efficiency improvement,

• Encouraging the use of renewable,

• Establishing cost oriented price policy,

• Saving oil and substituting it by gas,

• Attracting foreign investment in oil, gas and power sectors.

A key challenge for the Syrian natural gas (NG) industry is logistical, with gas reserves located mainly in north-eastern Syria, while population is centred in western and southern Syria. Syrian Petroleum Company currently is working to increase Syria's gas production through several projects aiming at expanding and developing national NG network. Besides, the electricity generation policy has the priority to substitute oil by NG in the existing stations and converting NG power plants to combined cycle whenever possible. Moreover, the Government is in process to relax state monopoly over power sector. There are many efforts to reinforce the transmission and distribution of networks, and to improve the quality of customer services.

Covering future energy need in respect to the sustainable development of energy sector forms the main objective of any energy policy. Responding to the high increase of energy consumption together with the increased economic, financial and environmental burdens, Syria –like many other countries- has made noticeable efforts during the last two decades to explore possible energy conservation and efficiency improvement measures in order to reduce the energy demand on one side and substitute the exhaustible fossil fuels with renewable and nuclear alternatives on the other side. The importance of energy conservation and energy efficiency policy in the context of sustainable development has re-gained political momentum. Recent development on the energy market have seen highly volatile oil prices, increased awareness of the need for energy security, and growing energy-related environmental problems including the threat of human-induced climate change. In this context energy conservation and efficiency improvements can benefit both society and the environment by: reducing atmospheric pollution; lessening negative externalities resulting from energy production; boosting industrial competitiveness; generating employment and business opportunities; improving the housing stock and the comfort level of occupants; enhancing productivity; increasing security of supply; and contributing to poverty alleviation, among other aspects.

In order to reflect above national energy policy in the future structure of Syrian energy system in a consistent and well-organized way, comprehensive analysis has been performed covering both demand and supply side and using advanced methods like IAEA's tools (MAED, WASP, MESSAGE and SIMPACTS).

On the demand side the future long-term (up to 2030) energy and electricity demand has been projected according to different scenarios reflecting the possible future demographic, socio-economic and technological development of the country. These scenarios are constructed to cover a plausible range, in which future evolution factors affecting energy demand are expected to lie.

On the supply side a comprehensive analysis of the national energy supply options has been performed in order to formulate an adequate energy supply strategy that ensures meeting the projected future demand. The analysis depends on the integrated energy supply methodology where the whole national energy system (including all possible resources and conversion technologies) has been assessed on the basis of least-cost approach adopted in the IAEA's optimization tool MESSAGE. In this analysis all possible future supply options represented by fuel type and conversion technologies are considered to ensure supply security through diversifying the energy mix by selecting more efficient, affordable and cost-effective energy technologies, including improved fossil fired technologies, renewables and nuclear technologies. To reflect national needs in social and economic dimension, constraints have been imposed on new investments, fuel availability, energy import and export, market penetration rates and time entering for new technologies. This is essential for realistic appraisal in case of introducing renewables connected with problems of availability or in case of nuclear option that requires huge investment and preparation of national infra structure. The results indicate that nuclear option will enter the Syrian electricity generation system in 2020 with a NPP capacity of 1000 MW.

With emphasis on energy saving detailed study was prepared by GTZ for the beneficiary of the Ministry of electricity and under the support of the Atomic Energy Commission of Syria. The study was conducted in the frame work of Master plan Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energies (MEERE) project. The objective of MEERE project is to develop a plan for integrating energy efficiency and renewable energies in a sustainable long term planning for the Syrian energy sector. The recently finalized project found out that the proposed energy saving, efficiency improvement and increased renewable on the supply and demand sides of Syrian energy system will help to reduce about 25% of expected future primary energy in 2030. The achieved energy saving of 18.6 Mtoe in 2030 will be distributed to 58% for demand side and 42% for supply side. Besides, 3.8 Mtoe are fossil fuel substitution by renewables.

Furthermore, to asses the influence of climate change and impact of the Kyoto protocol on the future development of Syrian energy sector the Ministry for Environment under the support of UNDP finalized recently a project on ”Enabling Activities for the preparation of Syria's Initial National Communication to the UNFCCC”. The project deals with GHG inventory calculation of the energy sector according to IPCC guide lines, vulnerability analysis of Syrian energy sector to climate change and evaluation of future strategy to mitigate GHG emissions. In this sense the energy sector is responsible for the most GHG emissions and inside it the sub-sector of electricity generation plays the dominant role. The proposed mitigation measures comprise energy saving and conservation, switching to a cleaner fuel, recovery of flared gases, increasing the role of cleaner generation technologies like renewables and nuclear options in the future electricity generation. The Mitigation analysis indicates that the adopted measures in the energy sector could reduce about 60 MtCO2 in the year 2030 of which about 37% would come from the power sector.

Syrian generation sector relies mainly upon fossil fuel with an average share above 80% during the last two decades. For the future development of electricity generation system Syrian electricity policy focus on the following issues:

• Improving technical performance of existing power plants,

• Enhancing the electric load factor of the power system;

• Substituting HFO by NG;

• Enhancing the average system efficiency by increasing the share of CC;

• Increasing the share of clean technologies by encouraging renewables and nuclear options;

• Reducing technical losses and illegal consumption of distribution network.

To analyze and evaluate the future development of electricity generation sector, two future scenarios have been developed by Energy Planning Group reflecting the most favourable development trends of Syrian power sector. Both scenarios depend on the least cost expansion approach of generated electricity unit over the study period 2005-2030. The first development trend refers to the Reference Scenario (RS) that reflects the baseline development in formulating future optimal expansion plan of generation sector under a set of limits and constraints that reflect the technological features of available, committed and future power plant candidates, availability of domestic fuel resources and import and export possibilities. The second is an alternative expansion scenario, so called Clean Technology Scenario (CTS) that focuses on introducing policy measures in term of energy saving and clean technologies (renewable, nuclear, NG firing) that help in reducing GHG emissions.

Following the RS results the electricity generation will increase from 34 TWh in 2005 to about 148.4 TWh in 2030. The optimal expansion plan shows an increase of installed capacity from 6200 MW to 29600 MW. The new capacity addition is distributed to 14360 MW for CC, 12200 MW for heavy fuel fired steam power plants, 900 MW GT, 300 MW wind turbines and 1600 MW for two nuclear power plants that will enter the system in 2020 and 2025.

The optimal expansion plan of CTS shows that the installed capacity will arrive 32360 MW in 2030. The new capacity addition comprises 2000 MW for wind, 2000 MW for PV and 1000 for CSP and remaining are thermal power plans and two nuclear power plants like in RS.

The final electricity demand^ formed about 15.5% of total final energy demand in 2007. This demand grew rapidly during the period 1994-2007 arriving in 2007 about 30.6 TWh.

TABLE 5. THE ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION BY SECTOR OF CONSUMPTION* ¹

SECTOR	IN 2007	IN 2009
Household	52.29%	51.6%
Service	9.6%	10.8%
Industry	23.76%	23.49%
Agriculture	6.08%	7.02%
Extractive Industries and Refining of Petroleum	2.53%	2.77%
Governmental Bodies, Temples and Street Lighting	4.59%	4.01%
Handicrafts and Others	1. 16%	1.02%

*Taking into consideration the illegal consumption of electricity

1 Latest available data

To face the increased demand the electricity generation increased during the period 1994-2007 form 14.88 TWh to 39 TWh. This historical development shows an average annual growth rate of 8%.

During the period 1994-2009 the peak load demand grew from 2474 MW to 7223 MW showing an average growth rate of 7.4%. To cope with both peak load and electricity demand increase the available installed capacity increased from 3600 MW to 7518 MW (winter time, and 6500 MW in summer time). Thus, the reserve margin, which depected a high value of more than 30% in the year 2000, decreased after that gradually and the system has shown deficiet in the installed capacity in 2006 and 2007 that caused in real power shortages during the peak time. The availabel capacity in 2009 was distributed to 85% for thermal and 15% for hydro power plants. In 2009 the total generated electricity arrived about 43 TWh that was distributed to 95% for thermal and 5% for hydro generation (Table 6).

Due to the limited generation of hydro power the increased electricity demand lead to steadily increase of fossil fuel for generation purpose represented mainly by HFO and NG. During the period 1994-2009 the share of hydro power generation fluctuated heavily between 20% and 5% following the water availability in the Euphrates river. Thus, over the whole period the share of thermal generation exceed 80% and arrived in 2009 more than 95%. Hence, the fossil fuel consumption in the electricity generation –consisting of heavy fuel oil (HFO), Natural gas (NG) and small amounts of Diesel- increased from 3 to 9.3 Mtoe during the period 1994-2009. Following the available domestic NG its share in the fuel mix fluctuated significantly; it increased from 32% in 1994 to 60% in 1997, decreased to 48% in the year 2000 and increased again to 59% in 2002 and to 49.5% in 2009.

TABLE 6. ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION, CONSUMPTION AND CAPACITY

							Average annual growth rate (%)
	1970	1980	1990	2000	2005	2009	2000 to 2009
Capacity of electrical plants (GWe)
- Thermal			1.835	4.505	5.079	6.37	3.9
- Hydro			0.550	1.067	1.150	1.151	0.9
- Nuclear
- Wind
- Geothermal
- other renewable
- Total			2.335	5.572	6.229	7.52	3.4
Electricity production (TW.h)
- Thermal			10.636	22.714	31.49	41.38	6.9
- Hydro			1.59	2.5	3.45	1.95	0.97
- Nuclear
- Wind
- Geothermal
- other renewable
- Total (1)			12.226	25.217	34.94	43.3	6.2
Total Electricity consumption (TW.h)			8.9	18.53	27.06	32.5	6.4

(1) Electricity transmission losses are not deducted.

* Latest available data

Source: Electrical Statistical report (1999-2000)-(2005)

The capacity of Electrical Plants in 2009 was 1151 MW distributed as follows:

TABLE 7. CAPACITY OF ELECTRICAL PLANTS (MW)*

Hydro Power Plant	Winter time	Summer time
AL THAORA Plant	650	200
TECHREEN Plant	450	200
ALBAATH Plant	51	50

* Subject to the availability of water resources

TABLE 8. ENERGY RELATED RATIOS

	1970	1980	1990	2000	2005	2009
Energy consumption per capita (GJ/capita)			27.9	48.8	57.04	59.22
Electricity consumption per capita (kW.h/capita)			719.9	1458	1865	2147
Electricity production/Energy production (%)			4.4	5.9	10.7	14.4
Nuclear/Total electricity (%)			0	0	0	0
Ratio of external dependency (%) (1)			-186.3	-92.8	-11.1	-10

(1) Net import / Total energy consumption.

* Latest available data

The Law No. 12 (1976) promulgated the establishment of Atomic Energy Commission of Syria (AECS). In 1979, AECS assumed its duties as a governmental agency responsible for peaceful utilizations of atomic and nuclear technologies. Research departments, facilities and laboratories were founded and manned with skillful workforce towards carrying out basic and applied research in the fields of atomic and nuclear applications. AECS represents Syrian Arab Republic in regional and international gatherings related to nuclear and atomic issues. In 1963, Syria became a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency. It has fulfilled its international obligations with respect to nuclear safeguards by signing the NP treaty in 1967. AECS is complying with radiation safety regulations. The AECS is the regulatory authority in Syria. Considering a nuclear power program, AECS becomes the most appropriate organization in Syria to assess design option, establish user requirement, and prepare bid documents. Regarding country preparation to introduce first NPP, the following main achievements can be categorized:

• In the years 1980-1985, AECS in cooperation with the Ministry of Electricity initiated the first steps toward a nuclear power program. The efforts at that time accomplished a site selection study in cooperation with the Russian side. The first NPP was supposed to be a Russian design (VVER). However, after the Chernobyl accident the project was suspended.

• During the period 1999-2009, comprehensive long-term analysis of Syrian energy system has been performed aiming at projecting future final energy and electricity demand and formulating optimal energy supply strategy up to 2030. The main focus was the development of optimal expansion plan of electricity generation system to identify the optimal future generation mix and evaluate the possible role of nuclear option and the time schedule for the introduction of the first nuclear power plant on the basis of least-cost expansion. For this purpose various IAEA's analysis tools (like MAED, WASP, MESSAGE and SIMPACTS) have been employed and two technical cooperation projects with the IAEA were accomplished. The optimization results indicate that the first NPP would enter the generation system in the year 2020 with a capacity of about 1000 MW.

• During the same period, significant effort has been put for HRD and capacity building related to nuclear power project, in addition to the preparation of preliminary user requirements of NPP and feasibility study for a PWR.

• In compliance with the IAEA rules and agreements, the AECS has established Radiological and Nuclear Regulatory Office (RNRO);

• In 2009, the Higher Steering Committee for NPP has been established and has a set of responsibilities similar to NEPIO (notification to Prime Minister).

• 2009 two Committees were also established, one at the AECS dealing with regulatory, nuclear safety, environmental, hydrological aspects, and another at the Ministry of Electricity to deal with issues of technical infrastructures related to electric power plant and national grid.

Figure 4 represents the organizational structure of the Syrian energy sector. AECS is responsible for all activities related to peaceful application of atomic energy in the fields of agriculture, medicine and industry. AECS also represents Syria's membership by the IAEA and in other related organisation. Prime Minister Decision No.6514 in 1997 details functions of the AECS as being the Regulatory Body for radiation safety in Syria. New law (legislative decree No. 64) was issued by the President of the Syrian Arab Republic. This legislative decree complies with the international standards as specified in the BSS and GS-R-1. It nominates AECS as the regulatory authority in respect to radiation protection and safety and security of radiation sources.

The utilization of electric power plants is the exclusive responsibility of ministry of electricity. Thus, the operation of possible future NPP will be also under this responsibility.

Fig 3: Organizational Structure of Syrian Energy System

There is no nuclear power plant in operation, under construction or decommissioned in Syria. According to the current long term energy planning studies in Syria, nuclear option will contribute in the national electricity production in 2020. During the period 2020-2030 two nuclear reactors are supposed to be operated with a total capacity of 1600 MW.

Not applicable.

Syrian energy supply strategy has indicated recently the competitive role of nuclear option in future energy supply mix. There is an acceptance and will to adopt a decision for considering nuclear option for electricity generation. This is due to the fact that recent developed supply strategy has indicated that Syria is going to face serious problems in covering its future energy supply after 2015. Meanwhile Syria has almost reasonable energy balance. However, as Syrian primary energy demand is increasing by an average rate of 5%, where at the same time oil production is steadily decreasing and NG production is limited, the country will depend more and more on energy import. In 2015 this import is expected to arrive at 16% and in 2020 to more than 45% of primary energy demands. Thus, in view of the positive supply security features of nuclear option, its introducing in the Syrian electricity generation system during the period 2020-2025 will increase supply security and mitigate possible socio-economic concerns.

However, despite all these facts, up till now there is no official decision to consider NPP as generation option.

The only one indication is the recently undertaken effort to support infrastructure development for the future nuclear power program in form of TC project with the IAEA. The on-going TC project (SYR/0/020) "Conducting a Technical and Economic Feasibility Study and Site Selection for a Nuclear Power Plant" aims at:

• Performing technical specification and economic evaluation of the most technically economically suitable nuclear power plant.

• Selecting adequate nuclear power plant depending on technical, safety, economic, financial and performance characteristics,

• Identifying site parameters affecting plant design.

• Establishing a national coordination framework for the national nuclear power programme.

• To help establish a legal framework and a national technical qualification system.

• To evaluate the Syrian development status regarding nuclear infrastructure and user requirements for introducing the first nuclear power plant.

The first NPP is expected to be turnkey project with some national participation. However, there is no policy for fuel supply or spent fuel storage. It is expected that these issue will find a solution in the framework of the ongoing international efforts leaded by IAEA to solve the problem of nuclear fuel supply and spent fuel disposal for new counties embarking adopt nuclear power program for peaceful application.

As already mentioned the introduction of the first NPP will be managed mainly by AECS in cooperation with the Ministry of Electricity. No NEPIO has been established as per IAEA Guide. However, the Higher Steering Committee for NPP has been established in 2009, which has a set of responsibilities similar to NEPIO (notification to Prime Minister). Besides, two committees were also established in 2009, one from AECS that is responsible for reactor engineering aspects, regulatory, nuclear safety, and nuclear fuel cycle issues etc. The other is from the Ministry of Electricity to deal with issues of technical infrastructures related to electric power plant and national grid.

AECS produced recently (in 2008 and 2009) two technical reports dealing with the main criteria for selecting future NPP in Syria. Old documents are also available at the Ministry of Electricity (MOE). However, these reports are from the year 1980 and dealing with Russian NPP design.

It is recognized in case of Syria that there is an understanding of the required national strategy for accomplishing phase 1 and phase 2 for introducing first NPP. Preliminary drafting on "User Requirements" for introducing 1st NPP is prepared and can serve as a starting point for a comprehensive report.

It is expected that the funding of the first NPP will be allocated by the Syrian Government with possible support from external regional funding sources. However, financial and economic evaluation could be one of the important outputs of the ongoing TCP SYR0020 project with the IAEA.

Present and future Syrian electric grid capacity is adequate to incorporate NPP as a base load. However, present grid stability needs further improvement. Regional interconnection with 7 Arab countries in addition to Turkey is available now. In the next 10 years the electric grid interconnection around the Mediterranean will be accomplished.

As already mentioned several documents from a previous study for site specification and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) are available. However, they need detailed review and evaluation. According to EIA, AECS is responsible and has good expertise.

The research infrastructure at the AECS is especially devoted to the research programs addressing the peaceful application of nuclear energy. The AECS is responsible for determining the basis of the national policy and the related plans and programs regarding the peaceful utilization of atomic energy in Syria. This includes executing and supporting research, analysis and studies that might lead to nation's scientific, technological and economical development related to the utilization of atomic energy; establishing research and training centres, laboratories, test facilities, educating the personnel in the nuclear field and make cooperation with the universities and related organizations; preparing and implementing the decrees and regulations to determine the basis for the nuclear and radiological safety.

The AECS undertakes the research duty by performing experimental and theoretical studies at its laboratories and by making projects with international and local institutions. This includes R and D activities related to:

• Reactor physics and shielding calculation using adequate analysis tools;

• Thermal hydraulic and reactor safety analysis with special emphasis on research reactors;

• Reactor kinetics to measure selected MNSR kinetic parameters;

• Radiation protection with main focus on medical and industrial applications;

• Advanced NDT expertise with application in oil and other industry branches;

• Activities related to medical radio isotope production.

Not applicable.

The most cooperation activities related to nuclear applications are performed by the AECS in cooperation with the IAEA. Thus, over the last three decades AECS implemented Technical Cooperation and Coordinated Research projects with the IAEA. AECS received many IAEA experts in different fields, like energy planning, research reactors INSAR mission, radiation protection and radiological regulatory.

Besides, the TC and (CRP) programmes of the IAEA proved to be important tools for promoting national research activities in different fields of interest in nuclear technology. The following are relevant TC and CRP projects implemented during the last decade:

• TC-Project (SYR/006) on Analysis of Energy and Electricity Demand Projection in Syria (Covering the period 1999-2030);

• Comparative Assessment of Electricity Generation Options (RAS/0/043)

• Technical and Economic Feasibility Study and Site Selection for a Nuclear Power Plant (SYR/0/020).

• Supporting Strategic Planning to Meet Future Energy Needs in ARASIA Member States (RAS/0/052),

• CRP (CRP12216) on: Safety significance of postulated initiating events for different research reactor types and assessment of analytical tools (J7.10.10);

• CRP (CRP15044) Innovative methods in research reactor analysis: Benchmark against experimental data on neutronics and thermal hydraulic computational methods and tools for operation and safety analysis of research reactors.

• Improving Utilization of Miniature Neutron Source Reactor (SYR/4/009)

• Energy and Nuclear Power Planning Study (SYR/0/006)

• Nuclear Safety (SYR/9/005)

• Research Reactor (SYR/4/002)

• Nuclear Analytical Laboratory (SYR/0/004)

• Uranium Exploration (SYR/3/002), (SYR/3/004)

• Uranium Recovery from Phosphoric Acid (SYR/3/003)

• Nuclear Electronics (SYR/4/003), Nuclear Electronics (Phase II) (SYR/4/005)

• Waste Management (SYR/9/004)

• Human Resource Development and Nuclear Technology Support (SYR/0/019)

The following is a chart illustrating the Regulatory Authority:

The Presidential Decree No. 64 of 2005 was issued on 3.8.2005 by the president of the Syrian Arab Republic. This legislative decree complies with the international standards as specified in the BSS and GS-R-1, the commitments of the Syrian government in its letter to IAEA Director General regarding the application of the code of conduct and the Security Council decision No. 1541. It nominates AECS as:

• The regulatory authority in respect to radiation protection and safety and security of radiation sources.

• Responsible for emergency planning and coordination for radiological or nuclear accidents

• The competent authority responsible for issuing approval certificates for package design.

AECS is obliged by this legislative decree to establish a regulatory organ to carry out the duties assigned by this legislative decree and to appropriately staff it and provide resources needed.

AECS established the regulatory organ: the Radiological and Nuclear Regulatory Office (RNRO) by Decision No. 23/6 dated 10/10/2006.

By this legislative decree, AECS is empowered to:

• Prepare regulations, to be issued by the prime minister.

• Issue authorizations.

• Perform inspections. Inspectors have the powers of Judicial Police.

• Impose enforcement actions

• Undertake measures to detect illicit trafficking

• Verify the absence of contamination exceeding permissible limits in the goods imported to or crossing into Syria

• Promote protection, safety and security culture among the public.

Moreover, this legislative decree prescribes sanctions in case of non-compliances. The sanctions scheme takes into account the risk associated with the radiation sources. It also defines the civil liability for damages due to radiological or nuclear accidents.

By this legislative decree, an advisory committee, the “radiation protection and safety and security of radiation sources committee”, is established to support AECS.

All regulatory functions are controlled by the Prime Minister Decree no. 134 of 17.1.2007 "General regulations on radiation protection and safety and security of radiation sources"

Detailed regulations for the safe transport of radioactive materials, (decision No. 813/2000) are based on ST-1, 1996.

The process for obtaining a licence from the regulatory authority goes as follows:

• Licensee submits an application form to the AEC-RNRO, containing all detailed data and information about the activity (responsibilities, radiation sources, location, workers, monitoring, emergency …..)

• For some activities, the form should be attached with radiation protection program

• The RNRO makes an assessment of the application and radiation protection program

• If the submitted documents are sufficient, the RNRO pays a visit to the site to inspect and check the availability of safety arrangements

• Only then a decision may be taken to issue an authorization. However, if there is lack of some information, data or safety arrangements, a letter shall be sent to the Licensee for further action.