National Atomic Energy Agency

Read: https://www.gov.pl/attachment/4cddd10a-5e8b-414d-bb95-670f6507d73e

The program presents the scope and structure of the organization of activities to be undertaken in order to:

• implement nuclear energy,
• ensure the safe and effective operation of nuclear power facilities,
• ensure decommissioning of nuclear power facilities after the end of their operational lifetime,
• ensure the safety of spent fuel and radioactive waste management.

The Program implementation schedule has been set out for the years 2020-2043.

The Program defines the costs related to its implementation until 2033, i.e. the end of the 1st stage - commissioning of the first nuclear power plant.

Moreover, the Polish Nuclear Power Program presents a plan for the preparation and implementation of a human resources development plan and the implementation of associated investments.

It is planned to update the Program every 4 years, which will also allow to verify the data of costs necessary for its implementation.

Three main institutions are involved in the implementation of the Polish Nuclear Power Program:

1. minister responsible for energy - coordinates and promotes the Polish Nuclear Power Program, supports the participation of Polish industry in the Program in order to use nuclear energy;
2. investor – assures financing for the investment, obtains appropriate permits, conducts construction of nuclear power plant, commissioning and operation;
3. The National Atomic Energy Agency as a regulator (nuclear regulatory body) - supervises the safety of a nuclear facility and its operations, including: 

• inspections
• safety assessment
• issues permits
• imposes fines and sanctions

The President of the National Atomic Energy Agency is an independent, central body of government administration that acts as an independent regulatory body. With the help of his subordinate Agency, the President supervises the safe use of ionizing radiation in industry, medicine and research.

The tasks of the President of the National Atomic Energy Agency, as a nuclear regulatory body, in relation to nuclear facilities, including nuclear power plants, include:

1. Formulation of requirements in the field of nuclear safety and radiological protection.
2. Conducting the authorization process for the construction and operation of nuclear facilities.
3. Performing review and assessments as well as inspections  in the nuclear facility.
4. Issuing technical regulatory guides specifying detailed methods of ensuring safety,
5. Imposing sanctions forcing compliance with relevant regulations.

The President of PAA will perform his functions at each stage of the nuclear facility lifetime, starting from the environmental assessment and siting stage, to design, construction and operation, to decommissioning. His responsibility will be to check and confirm that the investor meets the requirements of nuclear safety and radiological protection.

One of the main tasks carried out in the Polish Nuclear Power Program is to strengthen the nuclear regulatory body. This strengthening will be implemented in three areas:

• staff reinforcement
• equipment and infrastructural resources
• technical support organization system

The ability of PAA to efficiently perform its nuclear regulatory control tasks depends mainly on the possession of highly qualified personnel

Regulatory oversight over project implementation with regard the design, construction and operation of a nuclear power plant is a challenge for the President of PAA, which requires the reinforcement of the existing PAA staff by employing personnel specialised in many technical areas. In recent years, PAA has taken a number of actions to strengthen the competences of the nuclear regulatory body. The efficient performance of tasks by nuclear regulatory control personnel requires many years of competence building. The process of developing the competences of PAA employees has been continued for several years, using mainly training opportunities offered by the International Atomic Energy Agency and as part of international cooperation (training, internships of PAA inspectors in countries with an advanced stage of nuclear energy development).

PAA is preparing the implementation of a training system for personnel in the field of nuclear technology as well as methodology and criteria for conducting regulatory assessment, as well as conducting inspections of nuclear facilities.

In order to ensure the proper performance of tasks for the purposes of the Polish Nuclear Power Program, PAA will purchase appropriate hardware and software for safety analyses and assessment of documentation submitted by the investor. Moreover, the national radiation system will be expanded, including programmes supporting decision-making in crisis situations.

With the acquisition of new personnel and purchase of equipment, PAA's needs in terms of office facilities will double and it will be necessary to ensure that it has its own headquarters, which PAA currently does not have. The headquarters will have to meet the requirements of information security, 24-hour emergency service, as well as other necessary conditions related to the performance of tasks to ensure nuclear safety and radiological protection of the country.

PAA will be responsible for the assessment of compliance with safety and security requirements and the issuing of relevant permits and opinions. The President of PAA and PAA staff will bear the final responsibility for the correct performance regulatory assessment and the control of activities related to the construction, commissioning, operation and decommissioning of a nuclear facility.

A significant part of analyses and expert reports in the area of nuclear technology and individual technical fields will have to be outsourced to third parties. Due to the wide scope and complexity of technical issues necessary for verification by the nuclear regulatory body, support from an organization with the necessary competences and computing programs is needed.

The practice of using expert support organizations is common to all nuclear regulators. In line with IAEA recommendations, the nuclear reactor should use services of this type of independent technical organizations performing analytical work supporting the regulatory control decision-making process at each stage of investment process.