NIGERIA TO HEAD THE FORUM OF NUCLEAR REGULATORY BODIES IN

UNCLAS ABUJA 000696

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DOE FOR PERSON AND HAYLOCK
BAGHDAD FOR DUNDAS MCCULLOUGH

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KNNP ENRG ECON PARM TRGY PTER PGOV KRAD NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA TO HEAD THE FORUM OF NUCLEAR REGULATORY BODIES IN
AFRICA

REF: A. ABUJA 2397

B. ABUJA 1121

1. (SBU) SUMMARY. On April 10, ESTHOff met with the Director
General of the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA),
Professor Shemsiden Elegba, who reported that he has been elected to
chair the newly-formed Forum of Regulatory Bodies in Africa
(FORBIA). The forum aims to harmonize and strengthen the nuclear
safety and security regulatory framework of its members as well as
their technical capacity. The new chairman stated that the forum
has requested U.S. assistance, through U.S. representatives
attending the inaugural meeting, in building the capacity of its
member states. He also mentioned that the NNRA, in collaboration
with the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA),will
hold radiation detection and recovery training for its employees in
October. The U.S. Mission recommends continued U.S. engagement with
the NNRA and believes such collaboration will have broader impact
beyond Nigeria. END SUMMARY.
.
New Nuclear Regulatory Body Set Up
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.

2. (U) In an April 10 meeting with ESTHOff, the Director General of
the NNRA, Professor Shemsiden Elegba, reported that he was elected
the first-ever Chairman of FORBIA at a March 25 meeting held in
Pretoria, South Africa. The forum was established to harmonize and
strengthen the nuclear safety and security regulatory framework as
well as technical capacity of its members. So far, the following
countries have signed the forum's charter: Algeria, Angola,
Botswana, Central African Republic, Cameron, Cote D'Ivoire,
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya,
Madagascar, Mali, Mauritius, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Niger,
Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, and
Zimbabwe. Representatives of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
(NRC),European Radiation Protection Authorities Network, the Asian
Nuclear Safety Network, and International Atomic Energy Agency also
attended the launch of the forum and discussed possible future
collaboration with the new regional body, Elegba said.

3. (U) Elegba reported that an African Thematic Working Group on
Regulatory Infrastructure for Nuclear Power Plants was established
at the same meeting to enhance the capacity of FORBIA members
through greater exchanges of information and technical expertise.
The short-term objective of FORBIA is to train a core group of
experts that will serve as in-house trainers in regional training
courses that the organization intends to offer to its members in the
future.
.
Request for USG Assistance
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.

4. (U) Elegba stated that the working group has, through U.S.
representatives at the meeting, requested U.S. capacity-building
assistance. African nuclear regulators, according to Elegba, are
particularly interested in strengthening their regulatory framework
and enhancing the technical capacity of their personnel to conduct
feasibility studies, site assessments, licensing, and the inspection
of nuclear power plant projects. He added that the NRC is
considering including two designees from FORBIA member states to
participate in a U.S.-sponsored training workshop to be held in
Vietnam in the summer of 2009.


5. (U) Elegba also reported that the NNRA, in collaboration with
the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA),will hold
a radiation detection and recovery training for its employees in
October (date yet to be determined) under the latter's Global Threat
Reduction Search and Secure Project. (Note: A similar training was
conducted in November 2008, at the conclusion of which the NNRA
received U.S. radiation detection equipment worth $100,000. End
Note).
.
Comment
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.

6. (SBU) The NNRA is one of the oldest nuclear regulatory bodies in
Africa (established in 2001) and is an active participant in
discussions at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and
regional forums. The election of the NNRA's Chief Executive as the
first chairman of the continental body FORBIA is testimony to
Nigeria's interest and activities in this filed. The U.S. Mission
recommends continued U.S. collaboration with the NNRA and believes
such engagement will have broader impact beyond Nigeria.


7. (U) This cable has been coordinated with Consulate Lagos.

SANDERS