NPP Infrastructure Development in Thailand

Mr. Pongkrit Siripirom

Bureau of Nuclear Safety Regulation, Office of Atoms for Peace,

Ministry of Science and Technology, Thailand.

Technical Meeting on Country Nuclear Power Profile

18-21 March 2013, Vienna, Austria.

Outline

Background information - Current status

- National Policy and Strategy

- PDP

Legislation and Regulatory Infrastructure in Thailand – Organization, Legal and regulatory frameworks

Self-evaluation and INIR Mission to Thailand – Evaluation Results, Strong and weak points

Current actions to fill the gaps

Impact from Fukushima

Conclusion

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Current status

One research reactor of 2 MW.

No nuclear power in operation.

Nuclear energy and radiation utilizations: medical, science and technology, education, industrials, etc.

Office of Atoms for Peace has responsibilities in;

Regulation 3S for nuclear/radioactive materials and installations

Policies and strategic plans

Coordinate and support national nuclear security plan

Research and development in fields of nuclear and radiation safety, security, safeguards

Emergency preparedness and response

Illicit trafficking (especially to support AEC)

Any other undertaking provided by laws as authority, and as assigned by the Ministry of the Cabinet. 3

Policy and Strategy on Nuclear Energy

Basic Policy on Nuclear Energy

Enhancement of international and IAEA cooperation.

Preparation to support NPT and safegards agreement.

Policy on Safety of Nuclear Energy Utilization

Enhancement of regulatory supervision to support research and development in nuclear safety.

Policy on HRD and infrastructure

Enhancement and support for HRD.

Enhancement and support basic infrastructure development.

Policy on Sustainable Development

Enhancement of nuclear energy utilization for sustainable development.

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Power generation trend

5

0

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

140,000

160,000

180,000

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

GWH

Year

Electricity Power Generation

Others

Imported

Diesel

Natural Gas

Coals

Fuel Oil

Hydro Electricity

PDP 2010 Thailand Fuel Mix for Power Generation

Electricity power generation sources

Natural gas

Coal

Trend of Nuclear Power Development Program

Power Development Plan (PDP) 2010 (Apr. 2010)

5 x 1000 MW, First unit planned for commercial operation in 2020.

Revised 2 PDP 2010 (March 2011)

Fukushima accident in March 11, 2011.

Project was postpone for 3 years for safety measure review, waiting for legislation and regulatory framework, and stakeholder involvement review.

4 x 1000 MW, First unit planned for commercial operation in 2023.

Revised 3 PDP 2010 (June 2012)

2 x 1000 MW (approx. 5% Generation), First unit planned for commercial operation in 2026.

Increase renewable energy and clean coal energy.

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INFRASTRUCTURE FOR NPP IN THAILAND

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Before a country can make a knowledgeable commitment to nuclear power, a certain infrastructure needs to be in place.

The infrastructure involves many organization and stakeholders. Thus, the preparation requires a strong cooperation.

Thailand underwent a process of self-evaluation on infrastructure for nuclear power project in 2010, and IAEA conducted INIR Mission to Thailand at the end of 2010. The results were submitted to the Government as a part of the “Readiness Report”.

The Structure of Nuclear Regulatory Body in THAILAND

17 Sub-Committees

(Reactor Safety Sub.)

Ministry of Science &Technology (MOST)

Office of Atoms for Peace (OAP) (Secretary General of Thai-AEC)

Thai Atomic Energy Commission (Thai-AEC)

Relevant organizations for NPP (Regulator, TSO and Utility)

Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology

TINT

Office of Atoms for Peace OAP

Ministry of Science

and Technology Ministry of Energy

Prime Minister

Thai Atomic Energy Commission

Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand

EGAT

National Energy Policy Council (NEPC)

Nuclear Power Infrastructure Establishment Coordinating Committee

NPIECC

Office of Energy Planning

Regulator

TSO

Utility

NPPDO

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NEPIO like organization “Nuclear Power Program Development Organization” so called “NPPDO” was

established under Nuclear Power Infrastructure

Establishment Coordinating Committee (NPIECC) as Secretary to NPIECC.

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Sub committee on 1. Legal system, Regulatory system and International

Protocols. 2. Nuclear Power Utility Planning Coordination. 3. Industrial and Commercial Infrastructure,

Technology Development and Transfer, and Human Resources Development.

4. Nuclear Safety and Environmental Issues. 5. Public Information and Public Participation. 6. Readiness report Preparation. 7. International Agreement and conventions.

Set up Sub committee to study the Infrastructure necessary for NPP

Nuclear Power Infrastructure Establishment Coordinating Committee

(NPIECC)

NEPIO/NPPDO

• National strategy for all 19 issues

• Funding strategy

• National stakeholders

Vietnam Nuclear Energy Summit 15

Regulatory Body

• Established legal and regulatory functions – Authorization process – Regulations and guides – Safety review and assessment – Inspection – Enforcement – Public information

• Recognition of IAEA standards for safety, security and safeguards

• Competency of personnel • International cooperation

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Utility

• Technical information – Electrical grid requirement

– Site selection

– Procurement

• Plan for human resource

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18

Regulatory Body Utility

Regulation and guidelines in place

Technical assessment

•Radiation protection •Emergency planning

•Environmental Protection •Fuel cycle and waste management

SELF-EVALUATION AND INIR MISSION

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Self-Evaluation and INIR Mission

Working Group from relevant organization has been appointed to conduct Self – Evaluation according to 19 issues of infrastructure.

Self – Evaluation report was submitted to the IAEA for Pre INIR in July 2010

First INIR Mission to Thailand was conducted in December, 2010 for one-week duration.

The objectives were to evaluate the development status of national infrastructure issues, clarify the gaps and assist in developing action plan to fill in the gaps.

The processes were • Review of self-evaluation of the status of national nuclear

infrastructure development of Thailand • Interviews for each issue and condition

o Main points (for IAEA team) from self-evaluation o Complementary information provided by Thailand o Questions/requests from INIR team

• Identification of gaps • Key findings/Recommendations/Suggestions

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Most frequently asked questions (FAQ) can be combined

into 4 major groups:

necessity of having nuclear

power plant in thailand

Economic benefit of having

nuclear power plant in Thailand

Readiness of having nuclear

power plant in Thailand

Public Acceptance

safety Carelessness Corruption

Other alternative or

renewable energy sources

Costly

construction Fuel cost

Fear of

explosion/

Radiation

Anxiety

1

2

3

4

Summary of Finding from Seminars in 2008

Topics FAQ

NIMBY*

* NIMBY = not in my back yard

Sub-committee on Public Communication and Public Acceptance

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3 areas of major gaps identified in phase 1, need to take some actions to fill in the gaps National Position: no clear gov. statement commitment to 3S. Nuclear safety:

Law and regulation including international instruments. Independent of Reg. Prime responsibility rest on operator/appointment of

leadership.

HRDP of Reg. is lack of detailed for Milestone 1.

Observations from INIR

CURRENT ACTIONS

To fill the gaps on National Position, Nuclear Safety and HRDP;

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Current actions

• Drafting new comprehensive law

• Developing Human Resource Development Plan

• Upgrading Quality Management in nuclear safety

• Expanding radiation monitoring stations in the country

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Drafting Comprehensive Nuclear Act

• Implementing comment from 1st review from IAEA.

• Implementing Model Law Handbook to the draft to cover NPP and to comply with necessary international legal instruments to fill the gap; – Composition of Board member

– Independent regulatory body

– Establish authorization process

– Preparation to be party of intl. instrumentations

• Regulations and guides for NPP.

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Human Development Plan

• OAP draft a detailed human development plan. – Request the IAEA and US-NRC to review.

• Preparation for the expanding responsibilities that come with the NPP program. – Training needs for current staff.

– Recruiting plan.

– Outsource.

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Approaches

Development of regulatory body

capability

Improvement of current staff

competency through trainings, workshops

and on the job trainings

Manpower recruitment

Quality Management in Nuclear Safety

• Bureau of Nuclear Safety Regulation has integrated GSR-3 and ISO 9001.

• Quality assurance program was set up and implemented to ensure a quality in nuclear regulation.

• BNSR is ISO 9001 certified.

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Expansion of Environmental Radiation Monitoring Stations

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5 new stations

including 2

seawater

monitoring stations

Post Fukushima Accident result in revision of PDP 2010 rev. 3

Revised 3 PDP 2010 (June 2012)

2 x 1000 MW (approx. 5% Generation), First unit planned for commercial operation in 2026.

Increase renewable energy and clean coal energy.

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Vietnam Nuclear Energy Summit 31

Post Fukushima Accident

Cooperation with regulatory in well developed country.

Close connection with ANSN, FNCA and etc. Law and regulation focus on:

– Site selection, evaluation and criteria. – Safety design feature and beyond design basis accident. – Design change. – Liability. – Emergency Preparedness and response.

• Full scope exercise for RR will be conduct in 2013

– Independent of Regulatory org. – New standards and requirements.

Public Involvement

Public communication, education and participation.

Provide accurate information about nuclear energy. - Publications

– Mass media

– Exhibitions

– Seminars

– Nuclear tours

– Youth camps

OAP presents both advantages and disadvantages to the public.

The public can then makes an informed decision on nuclear energy.

33 Nuclear safety is our priority.

Conclusion

• Comprehensive law underway. – This will solve many problems including the

major gaps identified by INIR Mission

• Waiting for the government decision. – Chicken and egg problem

• OAP cannot fully move forward on many preparation projects unless the government confirms its decision but still to maintain present status.

• Public acceptance, the crucial factor.

Nuclear Safety Is Our Priority. 34

Conclusion

• Utility still keeps studying NPP technology and site selection process.

• OAP is committed to perpetually improve upon existing laws and requirements and to procure competent personnel to effectively accommodate the national nuclear development plan in the future.

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Thank you for your attention.