Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –
IAEA experts, staff and counterparts during the Integrated Regulatory Review Service follow-up mission in Belgium. (Photo: FANC)
An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of experts has concluded a five-day review of Belgium’s regulatory framework for nuclear and radiation safety, as well as the interface between safety and nuclear security.
The Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) follow-up mission, conducted at Belgium’s request from 23 to 27 March, reviewed the country’s progress in addressing the recommendations and suggestions made by the initial IRRS mission in 2023. The mission was hosted by the Federal Agency for Nuclear Control (FANC) and Bel V, the Technical Safety Organisation of the Belgian nuclear safety authority and subsidiary of FANC, that together form Belgium’s regulatory body.
Using IAEA safety standards and international good practices, IRRS missions are designed to strengthen the effectiveness of the national regulatory infrastructure while recognizing the responsibility of each country for nuclear and radiation safety.
Overall, the IRRS team concluded that staff from the regulatory body showed a strong commitment and professionalism in carrying out their mandate to ensure nuclear and radiation safety in Belgium. The Government and the regulatory body addressed the recommendations and suggestions made by the 2023 mission in a systematic manner and made significant improvements since the initial mission. Of the 17 recommendations and 15 suggestions issued in 2023, the team found that 8 recommendations and 14 suggestions have now been successfully addressed and closed.
Belgium currently operates two nuclear power reactors at two nuclear sites, Doel and Tihange, that provide 34% of the country’s electricity production. Five reactors are in permanent shutdown. In 2003, the Government had decided to phase out nuclear power by 2025. However, this phase-out law was abrogated in 2025, allowing the operation extension until 2035 of Doel 4 and Tihange 3, and opening the path to possible new build and further lifetime extension. Other nuclear installations include research reactors, a radioactive waste treatment facility and an isotope production facility. In addition, medical and industrial applications of radioactive sources are widely used.
The IRRS team, comprising six international experts from Canada, Hungary, Morocco, Portugal, South Africa and the United Kingdom, as well as three IAEA staff members, conducted interviews and discussions with FANC and Bel V, and reviewed documents and other related information.
The IRRS team noted achievements in FANC’s human resource plan and competence management, including a systematic approach to training for all staff.
The IRRS team identified the following areas of good performance:
- To demonstrate the value of safety culture, FANC launched a project delivering small but effective adjustments focusing on leadership behaviour, knowledge management and internal cooperation and dialogue that visibly improved staff’s daily work and showed how safety culture enhancements lead to better organizational performance;
- FANC ensures competent, formally appointed inspectors through structured training and a transparent system for qualification and status tracking, including publication in the Belgian official gazette, making the list of credited inspectors official and available to all citizens; and
- FANC collaborated with the Belgian ministry for employment to address the initial mission’s findings on occupational safety. FANC’s efforts secured ministerial support and led to planned coordinated actions to ensure the protection of pregnant and breastfeeding workers.
“Belgium’s regulatory body has made notable and well‑structured progress since the previous IRRS mission, demonstrating professionalism, transparency and a clear dedication to safety,” said IRRS team leader Ramzi Jammal, Executive Vice President and Chief Regulatory Operations Officer of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. “The IRRS team welcomed the constructive engagement from all counterparts and recognizes the substantial efforts undertaken to address the earlier recommendations.”
“This follow-up IRRS mission came at a pivotal moment for Belgium’s nuclear sector,” said Pascale Absil, Director-General of FANC. “As our national policy evolves, the expectations placed on the regulatory system also grow. We are adapting proactively to these new realities, strengthening our processes and capabilities to ensure that nuclear safety, as well as the protection of the public and the environment remain at the core of our work. The opportunity to exchange with colleagues from other regulatory authorities during this mission has been extremely valuable — their experience and good practices help us refine our own approach and reinforce our continuous improvement efforts.”
The final mission report will be provided to the Government in about three months.
IAEA Safety Standards
The IAEA Safety Standards provide a robust framework of fundamental principles, requirements and guidance to ensure safety. They reflect an international consensus and serve as a global reference for protecting people and the environment from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation.