India's AERB joins MDEP for reviewing new reactor designs

New Delhi, Apr 10 (PTI) India's Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) has become the first new member of Multinational Design Evaluation Programme (MDEP), an initiative to leverage resources and knowledge of nuclear regulators in reviewing new reactor designs. This was conveyed to AERB Chairman S S Bajaj by MDEP Policy Group chair Andre-Claude Lacoste at a recent meeting in Mumbai. Lacoste is also the Chairman of the French Nuclear Safety Authority. "The Policy Group's decision was based on careful consideration of information provided by the AERB concerning its role and duties as well as India's nuclear regulatory framework," an MDEP statement said. The MDEP was launched by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) of the US and the French Nuclear Safety Authority (Autorite de Surete Nucleaire, ASN). India will be the 11th member of this body whose other members are Canada, China, Finland, France, Japan, South Korea, Russia, South Africa, UK and US. The MEDP pools the resources of the regulatory authorities of its members for the purpose of cooperating on safety reviews of designs of nuclear reactors that are under construction and undergoing licensing in several countries as well as exploring opportunities and potential for harmonisation of regulatory requirements and practices. The Nuclear Energy Agency of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development provides the technical support for the MDEP. PTI