RPA LAUNCHES TEN SAFETY GUIDES TO BOOST NUCLEAR REGULATION

By Alain Kabinda

The Radiation Protection Authority (RPA) has launched Ten safety guides aimed at strengthening radiation protection, improving regulatory oversight and preparing Zambia for emerging nuclear technologies as the country advances its nuclear energy ambitions.

The guides cover critical areas of radiation safety, including uranium mining and processing, medical cyclotron facilities, artificial intelligence in clinical applications, radioactive waste management and the reporting of radiation incidents and accidents.

Speaking during the Launch of the Guidelines in Lusaka RPA Board Chairperson Mr Msafiri Sinkala said the launch marked an important milestone in strengthening the country's regulatory framework and ensuring that radiation and nuclear technologies were applied safely and responsibly.

He said radiation technologies were increasingly important to national development, with applications across healthcare, agriculture, mining, water resources, industry and research.

Mr Sinkala said a strong regulatory framework was necessary to ensure that the benefits of these technologies were realised without compromising the safety of workers, patients, the public and the environment.

"These guidelines are not merely technical documents. They are important instruments for strengthening regulatory consistency, promoting safety culture and enhancing public confidence in the regulation of radiation activities in the country," he said.

The ten guides provide direction on setting up medical cyclotron facilities, from design and construction to operation, as well as notification and reporting of radiation incidents and accidents.

Other areas covered include emerging technologies and artificial intelligence in clinical applications, the sale, leasing and transfer of radiation sources, and the safe use of radiation sources in agriculture and water resources.

The guides also address radiation protection in uranium mining, milling and processing; the design and construction of diagnostic imaging rooms using X-rays, including shielding; qualification of experts; and criteria for the acceptance, management and disposal of radioactive waste.

Mr Sinkala said the guidance was particularly important as Zambia continued to explore advanced applications of nuclear technology in healthcare and other sectors.

He said the development of medical cyclotron facilities and the use of artificial intelligence in clinical applications required appropriate regulatory preparedness, professional competence and safety controls.

He further said the guidance on uranium mining and processing was relevant to Zambia's mining industry because activities involving radioactive materials required effective occupational and environmental protection measures.

The launch comes at a significant time in Zambia's nuclear development agenda following the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) Phase One Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) mission conducted from November 2 to 9, 2026.

The mission, undertaken at the request of the Zambian Government through the Ministry of Technology and Science, assessed the country's preparedness to develop the national infrastructure required for a nuclear power programme.

According to Mr Sinkala, the assessment examined all 19 nuclear infrastructure issues under the IAEA Milestones Approach, with the objective of determining Zambia's readiness to reach Milestone One.

He said preliminary findings identified the strengthening of the legal and regulatory framework as one of the key areas requiring attention.

Mr Sinkala said the IAEA mission also recognised the importance of preparing for the transition from the existing Radiation Protection Authority to a proposed Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Authority.

He explained that the anticipated transition would require more than a change of institutional name, as it would involve strengthening the regulator's independence, governance arrangements, human resource capacity, technical competencies, financial resources and regulatory infrastructure.

He said the authority needed to be adequately equipped to oversee nuclear and radiation facilities and activities as the country progressed with its nuclear development ambitions.

"The Board remains committed to providing strategic direction and effective oversight to ensure that the Radiation Protection Authority delivers on its mandate," he said.

Mr Sinkala said effective regulation required competent personnel, appropriate technical infrastructure, effective inspection and enforcement systems, stakeholder confidence and continuous improvement in regulatory practices.

He called on stakeholders in the scientific and industrial sectors to engage the authority whenever emerging technologies and new applications required regulatory guidance.

He said Zambia should not be left behind as science and industry advanced, adding that regulatory frameworks needed to respond to technological developments.

Meanwhile, RPA Director of Nuclear and Radiation Safety Mrs Medloy Nsofwa said the department played a central role in ensuring that activities involving radiation complied with established safety standards and regulatory requirements.

She said the department's responsibilities included developing regulatory guidance, licensing, inspections, compliance monitoring and enforcement to protect workers, the public and the environment.

Mrs Nsofwa said the expanding use of radiation technologies required regulators to continuously strengthen technical guidance and provide regulated entities with practical information to support compliance.

She said the ten safety guides would promote consistency in the interpretation and application of safety requirements and support regulatory engagement during licensing, inspections and compliance assessments.

And RPA Executive Director Dr Boster D. Siwila said the authority's responsibility extended beyond licensing and inspections to include promoting awareness, providing regulatory guidance and strengthening technical capacity among stakeholders.

He said the guides were intended to help regulated entities understand and implement appropriate safety requirements.

Dr Siwila emphasised that radiation safety was a shared responsibility, calling for continued cooperation among the regulator, operators, service providers and other stakeholders.

Mr Siwila also urged organisations and individuals conducting activities involving radiation to recognises that the primary responsibility for safety rested with them.

He said the value of the guides would ultimately depend on their adoption in operational practices, improved safety management systems and reduced radiation risks.

He called for the wide dissemination of the guides and continued stakeholder awareness to strengthen radiation safety and support Zambia's nuclear development ambitions.