News - AMSSNuR

On Thursday, the Council of the Gouvernment approved draft decree no. 2.24.920 creating the National Commission for Nuclear, Radiological, Biological and Chemical Risk Management, presented by the Minister of Interior Abdelouafi Laftit.

The aim of this draft decree is to establish a framework for coordination between the various government departments and bodies concerned, which requires the creation of a horizontal framework bringing together all those involved in nuclear, radiological, biological and chemical safety and security, said Mustapha Baitas, Minister Delegate for Relations with Parliament and Government Spokesman, at a press briefing following the Council meeting.

The draft decree also aims to establish an organic text enabling the creation of a national commission called the “National Commission for Nuclear, Radiological, Biological and Chemical Risk Management”, he added.

As part of its vision to strengthen cooperative relations at both regional and international levels, the Moroccan Agency for Nuclear and Radiological Safety and Security (AMSSNuR) has intensified its bilateral engagements with representatives of regulatory bodies operating in its areas of expertise. These exchanges aim to open new avenues for collaboration and lay the groundwork for future joint projects.

In this context, Mr. Saïd MOULINE, Director General of AMSSNuR, successively hosted Mr. Jean-Luc LACHAUME, Commissioner of the French Authority for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection (ASNR), Ms. Ditebogo KGOMO, Chief Executive Officer of the National Nuclear Regulator of South Africa (NNR), and Mr. Yau IDRIS, Director General of the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) and Chair of the Forum of Nuclear Regulatory Bodies in Africa (FNRBA). These meetings, held on the sidelines of the launch of the INSC project in Rabat from February 11 to 13, 2025, provided an opportunity to explore avenues of cooperation between AMSSNuR and these institutions, both bilaterally and multilaterally, with the aim of enhancing nuclear and radiological safety and security.

In the same spirit, Mr. MOULINE also welcomed Mr. James KETER CHUMBA, Director General of the Kenyan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (KNRA), during a working visit. This meeting served as an opportunity to share AMSSNuR’s regulatory oversight experience and to strengthen cooperation between the two institutions on topics of mutual interest.

Through these initiatives, AMSSNuR reaffirms its commitment to strengthening regulatory capacities in Africa and establishing robust collaborative frameworks for effective, harmonized, and sustainable nuclear safety.

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The Moroccan Agency for Nuclear and Radiological Safety and Security (AMSSNuR) has proudly hosted the Kick-off Meeting of the “Strengthening Nuclear Safety Regulatory Capacity in Africa” project in Rabat, from 11 to 13 February 2025.
This European Union funded initiative unites six European Nuclear Safety Agencies and nuclear regulatory authorities from six African nations (Morocco, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and South_Africa), fostering collaboration to enhance nuclear safety, radiation protection, and emergency preparedness, radioactive waste management, communication with the public, and human resources and capacity building, across the continent.
Implemented by Expertise France, this four-year project represents a significant step toward building a stronger, safer, and more resilient nuclear safety culture, aligned with the highest international standards.
AMSSNuR warmly thanks the European Commission, Expertise France, and the European Authorities for their valuable support and expresses its heartfelt gratitude to all the participants for their unwavering commitment and invaluable contributions throughout this important kick-off. The dedication and collaborative spirit are key to the success of this ambitious project.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has published the report of the Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) mission and has concluded that the Kingdom of Morocco is committed to strengthening its regulatory framework for nuclear and radiological safety. The country has made significant progress in establishing a new legal and regulatory framework, but further efforts are needed to move from the 1971 law to aligning regulations with IAEA safety standards. The mission, conducted at the request of Morocco and hosted by AMSSNuR, consisted of a 10-day review by a team of 16 experts, who assessed various facilities, including research reactors and radiotherapy departments. The IRRS team recognized Morocco’s proactive efforts, including a comprehensive integrated management system and a geographic information system (GIS) for emergency response. However, it recommended improvements in regulatory oversight, the establishment of a national nuclear safety policy and the guarantee of regulatory independence for licensing decisions.

The mission highlighted AMSSNuR’s good performance in international cooperation, communication and emergency preparedness, making it a potential model for regulators in Africa. The IAEA has recognized Morocco’s commitment to transparency and continuous improvement.

The conclusions aim to strengthen the effectiveness of Moroccan regulations and ensure alignment with global safety standards to protect people and the environment from the risks associated with ionizing radiation.

Click to view the report

The report of the review of Morocco’s nuclear emergency preparedness and response framework, recently published by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on its official website, highlights the Kingdom’s strong commitment to emergency management, training and capacity building.

During a 10-day evaluation mission carried out in collaboration with the Moroccan Nuclear and Radiological Safety Agency (AMSSNuR), a team of IAEA experts examined the national framework for nuclear and radiological emergency preparedness and response. The report highlights Morocco’s significant efforts, while making recommendations for further strengthening the system, including updating the national risk assessment, revising the protection strategy and developing an emergency classification system.

Morocco, which operates the MA-R1 TRIGA research reactor and is engaged in nuclear energy research, has demonstrated a strong capacity in nuclear safety. Through initiatives such as its IAEA’s Capacity Building Centre on Emergency Preparedness and Response (CBC) in Africa, and its active participation in international missions and events, Morocco has developed a strong nuclear safety capability.

Link: https://www.iaea.org/sites/default/files/documents/review-missions/2022_morocco_eprev_report_-_derestricted.pdf

The Moroccan Agency for Nuclear and Radiological Safety and Security (AMSSNuR) took part in the 14th plenary meeting of the Forum of Nuclear Regulators in Africa (FNRBA), held on September 28, 2022 in Vienna, on the sidelines of the 66th IAEA General Conference.

Dedicated to the election of a new president after more than 2 years of Moroccan presidency, this meeting, during which AMSSNuR was elected representative of North Africa within this network, was attended by representatives of FNRBA member states.

In his statement, Mr. Mounji ZNIBER, Director a.i. of AMSSNuR, recalled that in view of the importance of capacity development and maintenance in the African Member States of the IAEA, the FNRBA has worked, during the two years of the Moroccan Chairmanship, to promote a sustainable global nuclear safety and security framework and has achieved tangible results despite the well-known challenges that African Member States face in strengthening the nuclear safety and security.

Indeed, the work of the six thematic working groups of the FNRBA has led to concrete results in the areas of (1) legislative and regulatory infrastructure, (2) radiation protection and waste safety, (3) nuclear safety infrastructure, (4) emergency preparedness and response, (5) transport security infrastructure and (6) nuclear security infrastructure.

Also, Mr. ZNIBER reiterated the commitment of our country through its regulatory body to continue working closely with the other member states of the FNRBA in order to further strengthen cooperation in the peaceful applications of nuclear energy and ensure its safe, secure and responsible use.

It should be recalled that the FNRBA was officially recognized as a regional intergovernmental organization in 2019. It brings together the regulators of 34 African IAEA member states, and aims to improve, strengthen and harmonize the regulatory infrastructure for radiation protection, nuclear safety and security, as well as the dissemination and strengthening of the safety and security culture among its member states.

On the sidelines of the^66th Ordinary Session of the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Moroccan Agency for Nuclear and Radiological Safety and Security (AMSSNuR) renewed the Memorandum of Understanding with the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) signed in 2017.

This agreement was signed on 28 September 2022 in Vienna by Mr. Mounji Zniber, Acting Director of AMSSNuR and Mr. Christopher T. Hansson, President of the NRC.

This Memorandum of Understanding covers the exchange of technical information and cooperation on nuclear safety, including (1) substantive reports prepared to support AMSSNuR or NRC organizational decisions and policies, (2) documents related to licensing procedures, safety decisions and significant environmental decisions concerning nuclear facilities, (3) documents related to AMSSNuR or NRC licensing procedures (4) information in the field of nuclear security research that may be relevant to public safety, (5) reports on operational experience in nuclear facilities and/or experiments with radioactive materials, (6) regulatory and control procedures relating to the safety and security of nuclear facilities and radioactive materials, (6) regulatory and control procedures relating to the safety and security of nuclear facilities and radioactive materials. the implementation of safeguards and the assessment of the environmental impact of nuclear installations as well as (7) the early notification of accidents and emerging technical problems of direct concern to AMSSNuR or the NRC.

Following this signing, it was decided to strengthen cooperation between the two authorities, in particular through the exchange of information, the sharing of experiences and good practices as well as the organization of scientific visits and expert missions.

The Moroccan Agency for Nuclear and Radiological Safety and Security (AMSSNuR) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Slovenian Nuclear Safety Administration, on the sidelines of the^66th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), held in Vienna from 26 to 30 September 2022.

This agreement, which focuses on the exchange of technical information and cooperation in the fields of nuclear and radiological safety and security between the Kingdom of Morocco and Slovenia, was signed on September 27, 2022 by Mr. Mounji Zniber, Director a.i. of AMSSNuR and Mr. Igor Sirc, Director of the Slovenian Nuclear Safety Administration, in the presence of H.E. Mr. Azzedine Farhane, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Morocco to the International Organizations in Vienna and H.E. Mrs. Barbara Zvokelj, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Slovenia to the International Organizations in Vienna.

The objective of this Memorandum of Understanding is to facilitate cooperation and information sharing between the two parties, in particular with regard to (1) the development of the legislative and regulatory framework in the fields of nuclear safety and radiation protection, (2) the regulation of nuclear safety and radiation protection, (3) licensing and inspection processes and procedures, (4) regulatory assessment and periodic review of the safety of research reactors, (5) radioactive waste and spent fuel management, (6) emergency preparedness and response, (7) nuclear safety and radiation protection education, training and capacity building, (8) nuclear safety culture, leadership and management, (9) the integrated management system, (10) the nuclear safety policies and strategies and (11) the communication.

The signing of this memorandum of understanding is part of AMSSNuR’s efforts to promote international cooperation through the exchange of technical information, the sharing of experiences and good practices, through scientific visits, expert missions and the implementation of joint cooperation projects.

The Moroccan Agency for Nuclear and Radiological Safety and Security (AMSSNuR) is organizing, on June 14 and 15, 2022 in Rabat, the closing meeting of the European Union/European Commission cooperation project with Morocco on support to AMSSNuR in order to develop its human and organizational capacities and strengthen the national regulatory framework for nuclear and radiological safety.

This meeting aims to present to the parties concerned and the national press the results obtained in the various tasks of this project covering the regulatory aspects, the management system of AMSSNuR, the processes and procedures, the development of its human resources, the nuclear and radiological emergency plan, the safety of radioactive waste management, nuclear safeguards, orphan source research, licensing and communication with the public.

During this meeting, the impact of this cooperation project at the national level will also be presented, particularly with regard to the upgrading of the nuclear safety regulatory framework, the inspection programme for activities and facilities using sources of ionising radiation, the preparation and conduct of responses in the event of a nuclear or radiological emergency and public information.

This cooperation project, worth 1.6 million Euros financed by the European Union, was initiated in 2018, and was spread over five years.

The results obtained through this cooperation project will constitute, on the one hand, a basis for establishing a new strategic plan for the period 2022/2026 and on the other, a model to be shared with sister authorities in Africa within the framework of the triangular cooperation of the Kingdom of Morocco, other African countries and the European Union.

As part of the implementation of the theoretical and practical training strategy in the fields of nuclear and radiological safety and security, the Director General of AMSSNuR, Dr. Khammar Mrabit, signed, on June 9, 2021 in Settat, a partnership agreement with Mrs. Khadija Essafi, President of the Hassan Premier University of Settat (UH1).

The purpose of this agreement is to define the framework for cooperation aimed at contributing to the development and maintenance of skills in nuclear and radiological safety and security and safeguards for the benefit of students and teaching staff of UH1, in particular the Higher Institute of Health Sciences and other institutions under its supervision.

On this occasion, Dr. Mrabit stressed that this partnership is the illustration of the Royal High Will to promote vocational training and skills development in all socio-economic fields.

In this context, AMSSNuR developed and presented to its Board of Directors in November 2019 the strategy for theoretical and practical training in the fields of nuclear and radiological safety and security, recommended by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The strategy aims to build human capacity to ensure a high level of safety and security in all facilities and activities using sources of ionising radiation over the long term.

In its approach to implementing this strategy, AMSSNuR has signed several cooperation agreements with the relevant ministries and national authorities, as well as with universities, with the aim of collaborating and carrying out joint actions within the framework of theoretical and practical training in the fields of nuclear and radiological safety and security.

Indeed, these agreements aim to strengthen skills at the national level in the fields of nuclear and radiological safety and security as well as cooperation in Africa, in accordance with the royal guidelines on professional training and skills development in all socio-economic fields.

Thus, the partnership established will cover the initial academic training of students, the training of trainers, scientific and regulatory monitoring and regional and international cooperation.

Finally, the areas of cooperation and partnership of this convention are focused on the development of training programs related to nuclear and radiological safety and security and on the conduct of studies and research, as well as on the development of the culture of nuclear safety and security and the awareness of the faculty of the commitments of the Kingdom of Morocco in terms of nuclear safeguards.

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Council of the Gouvernment: Decree creating the National Commission for CBRN Risk Management adopted

AMSSNuR strengthens its international partnerships

Kick-off meeting of the European cooperation project for strengthening nuclear safety and radiation protection in Africa

Publication of the report of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) mission.

Publication of the peer appraisal of the arrangements in the kingdom of Morocco regarding the preparedness for responding to a radiation emergency

AMSSNuR elected North Africa representative at the 14th plenary meeting of the Forum of Nuclear Regulators in Africa

AMSSNuR Renews Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

AMSSNuR and the Slovenian Nuclear Safety Administration sign a Memorandum of Understanding

AMSSNuR organizes the closing meeting of the European Union/European Commission cooperation project with Morocco

AMSSNuR signs a partnership agreement in the field of nuclear and radiological safety and security training with the Hassan Premier University of Settat

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