Morocco has reiterated its firm commitment to South-South cooperation in nuclear and radiological safety during the meeting of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), convening in Vienna from from 2 to 6March.
Morocco’s permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna Azzeddine Ferhane underlined, in an address he made during this gathering, Morocco’s adherence to nuclear safety standards set by IAEA to protect people and the environment from radiation. Key standards include high-quality design, robust containment, and rigorous operational monitoring.
Mr. Ferhane hailed the IAEA’s efforts to strengthen nuclear & radiological safety during transport of nuclear waste safety and foster nuclear Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) capacity which involves establishing comprehensive frameworks to mitigate radiation hazards. This includes hazard assessment, emergency planning (EPR), protective actions, and training for first responders.
As nuclear safety responsibility is part of the States’ national obligations and international commitments, the Moroccan ambassador has outlined his country’s sustained efforts engaged to modernize its regulatory framework on nuclear safety and harmonize its national legislation with IAEA safety standards.
As part of its commitment, Morocco hosted two IAEA review missions, said Mr. Ferhane, noting that the emergency preparedness and response review mission praised the Moroccan national nuclear and radiological emergency system, exceeding expectations set by the IAEA safety standards.
For its part, the mission of the Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) lauded Morocco’s effective measures taken to set a new legal and regulatory framework for nuclear and radiological safety.
Morocco has also renewed commitment to continue to share its experience with African countries and work with its regional and international partners to contribute to strengthening the international nuclear safety standards.