Law No. 17 of 2023 on Regulation of Radioactive and Nuclear Activities and their Control.

This Law, comprising 126 articles organized into XI Chapters, establishes a comprehensive framework governing the peaceful use of nuclear energy and its applications within the State. It clarifies the State’s jurisdiction in legal matters, including nuclear and radiological emergencies, and provides mechanisms for compensation for nuclear damage. The Law further (i) establishes a system of regulatory oversight for all nuclear and radiological activities, and (ii) provides for the creation of an independent regulatory authority responsible for ensuring radiation safety, nuclear security, and safeguards, as well as the protection of people, property, and the environment from the risks of ionizing radiation. This Law applies to all facilities, installations, and activities that generate or may generate radiation exposure, including the production and use of radioactive sources, nuclear fuel cycle operations, reactors, waste management, transport, trade, decommissioning, and the mining and handling of radioactive materials.
Chapter 2 establishes a Radiation and Nuclear Regulatory Authority responsible for overseeing all nuclear and radiological facilities and activities. It defines the Authority’s broad mandate, including developing regulations and standards, issuing licenses, conducting inspections, enforcing compliance, maintaining national control, information, and safeguards systems, ensuring nuclear safety and security, coordinating emergency preparedness, and cooperating with national and international bodies, while granting it the necessary powers to perform these functions effectively. Chapter 3, concerning the Regulatory System, establishes a comprehensive oversight framework to ensure radiation safety, nuclear security, and safeguards, protecting people, property, and the environment while permitting justified beneficial activities. It assigns primary responsibility for compliance to licensees, introduces requirements for notification, registration, licensing, and regulatory review, and empowers the Authority to conduct risk-based inspections and take enforcement or corrective actions where necessary. Chapters 4 and 5 together establish a comprehensive framework for nuclear and radiological safety and security, with distinct but complementary focuses: Chapter 4 addresses nuclear and radiation safety, emphasizing protection against accidental exposure through technical measures, operational controls, and radiation protection principles; while Chapter 5 focuses on nuclear security and safeguards, aimed at preventing intentional acts such as theft, sabotage, or misuse of nuclear materials through physical protection, material accounting and control, and compliance with international non-proliferation and verification obligations. Chapter 6, on Emergency Preparedness and Response, establishes the system for managing nuclear and radiological emergencies, requiring incident reporting, the preparation and implementation of on-site emergency plans, and coordination through a national committee and plan, while assigning the Regulatory Authority a central role in oversight, communication, and international coordination. Chapters 8 and 9, respectively on Import, Export and Transport and on Radioactive Waste and Spent Fuel, establish strict controls over the cross-border movement and management of nuclear and radiological materials. Chapter 8 requires prior authorization for importing, exporting, and transporting regulated materials, ensures safe transport practices, assigns responsibility to authorized parties, and requires the return of sealed sources after use. Chapter 9 regulates radioactive waste and spent fuel through a national policy framework, centralized storage arrangements, licensing requirements, and prohibitions on illegal import, disposal, or dumping, while maintaining the responsibility of generators for safe management and associated costs. Chapter 10 establishes criminal penalties for regulatory violations and unauthorized activities, including theft or sabotage of nuclear materials, disclosure of sensitive information, attacks on nuclear facilities, illegal transport or import/export, and improper disposal of radioactive waste, with sanctions ranging from fines to long-term imprisonment or the death penalty in the most serious cases, alongside obligations for compensation, environmental remediation, and safe removal of materials.