Nuclear regulators of Ukraine and Norway have started implementing two new joint projects in 2024, the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine said on Wednesday.

"The first project, NORM, is a joint work on the regulations for the safe handling of non-nuclear natural radioactive materials," the inspectorate said on its Telegram channel.

It is noted that this comprehensive project covers a wide range of aspects aimed at analyzing industrial enterprises generating non-nuclear natural radioactive materials, and analyzing existing shortcomings in this area in Ukraine. Its implementation should result in the development of four regulatory documents that will be applied in the country.

The second project, ARGOS, provides for the transfer of relevant software and training of Ukrainian specialists in order to strengthen the system of emergency preparedness and response to radiation accidents. The project is currently under implementation: training and software setup are ongoing.

"I would like to express my deep gratitude to DSA [Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority], which remains one of our most reliable partners, for the ongoing support of the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate, which is especially important in the context of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine," Chief of the Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate Oleh Korikov said, following a meeting with DSA Director General Per Strand during the 69th IAEA General Conference in Vienna on Wednesday.

According to the Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate, the history of cooperation between the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate and DSA started in 2014. Joint projects between the Ukrainian Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate and DSA, which were launched after 24 February 2022, cover, inter alia, such areas as surveying territories affected by enemy military occupation and providing radiation survey equipment in formerly occupied territories.

The parties also cooperate in developing policies and procedures to restore regulatory control over nuclear facilities affected by occupation and hostilities, as well as in the area of ​​managing critical knowledge needed to protect personnel, the public and the environment during nuclear or radiological incidents caused by hostilities.