Nordic nuclear and radiation safety authorities have published a report looking at ways to improve co-operation. The Nordic Strategy Group Report: Enhancing Nordic Cooperation in Nuclear and Radiation Safety is the result of a working group established in 2023 following the annual meeting in Reykjavik, Iceland of the directors of the Nordic radiation and nuclear safety authorities.

These included the Danish Emergency Management Agency (BRS – Beredskabsstyrelsen), the Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (DSA – Direktoratet for strålevern og atomsikkerhet), the Icelandic Radiation Protection Institute (GR Geislavarnir Ríkisins), Denmark’s National Institute of Radiation Protection (SIS – Statens Institut for Strålebeskyttelse), the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority (SSM – Strålsäkerhetsmyndigheten) and Finland’s Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK – Säteilyturvakeskus).

The working group focused on aspects of cooperation that may be particularly affected by the change in the authorities’ operating environment resulting from the current geopolitical situation and the increased global interest in nuclear power.

This 23-page report concluded that the current operational environment of the Nordic radiation and nuclear safety authorities is very dynamic and changing rapidly. These changes are driven by the growing energy needs, connected to the green transition and a potential revival of nuclear energy, as well by the changes in the global and regional security environment leading to the emergence of new threats and a need for deeper regional cooperation.

The report included 13 recommendations:

  1. Establish a forum for knowledge sharing on nuclear regulation including public communications and stakeholder engagement on new build.
  2. Explore possibilities to develop joint Nordic training programmes and consider the possible future role of Nordic Nuclear Safety Research (NKS) in this context.
  3. Consider the scope of working groups related to likely future developments including research needs (eg AI).
  4. Consider the need for a forum for exchange of information on radioactive waste management and decommissioning from all activities and facilities.
  5. Extend the cooperation on emergency preparedness to include all nuclear and radiological risks and threats.
  6. Develop and improve necessary channels for the exchange of information including real time situational awareness and strategic overview on nuclear and radiological threats.
  7. Establish a plan on how to develop mutual assistance and response including prevention on regional level.
  8. Strengthen the cooperation between Nordic emergency preparedness (NEP) and the working group for public communicators (NPC).
  9. Strengthen the Nordic cooperation in supporting Ukraine.
  10. Strengthen information sharing and potentially coordination of assistance and development projects to Black Sea area and Central Asia.
  11. Strengthen the role of Nordic forums towards other multilateral cooperation and enhance Nordic influence and visibility in international cooperation fora related to nuclear and radiation safety.
  12. Review existing and future funding sources or mechanisms to foster cooperation.
  13. Raise visibility of the Nordic cooperation to political level and to general public.

Implementation of the recommendations is suggested to be executed through the authorities’ regular work and in different Nordic cooperation forums and working groups. The report recognised that there are different levels of urgency associated with these recommendations and proposed that 1, 6 and 7 are implemented as a priority. The Nordic authorities will prepare an action plan that will propose concrete implementation of the recommendations.

“Energy policy in Finland and Sweden encourages the construction of new nuclear power plants,” said STUK. “In Norway, a government-appointed nuclear power working group is currently preparing a report on nuclear power. The topics are also part of the public debate in Denmark, where both the political climate and public attitudes towards nuclear power have changed due to the war in Ukraine. All Nordic authorities are challenged to prepare for future developments, including the development of regulation, supervisory practices and expertise.”

GR noted that the Nordic countries need to have the capacity to deal with serious radiological accidents. “They need to have the capacity to measure the effects, to be able to quickly take appropriate safety measures and to communicate information to the public. They also need to have the knowledge and ability to accept foreign assistance, as each country has limited human resources and equipment to deal with major radiological accidents.”