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Strengthening Radiological Monitoring in Morocco: Inauguration of the ELMARSAD Probe Installed at AMSSNuR Headquarters

11 June 2026

Rabat, 05 June 2026 – In the framework of the technical cooperation project between the Moroccan Agency for Nuclear and Radiological Safety and Security (AMSSNuR), the European Commission, and the Belgian Institute for Radioelements (IRE-Lab), pertaining to the radiological monitoring of Moroccan territory, the Moroccan Agency for Nuclear and Radiological Safety and Security (AMSSNuR) has inaugurated the first probe of this ambitious project, installed at its headquarters in Rabat.

This high-level event brought together Mr. Saïd MOULINE, Director General of AMSSNuR, His Excellency Mr. Dimiter TZANTCHEV, Ambassador of the European Union to the Kingdom of Morocco, and His Excellency Mr. Gilles HEYVAERT, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to the Kingdom of Morocco. The event also saw the participation of the relevant ministerial departments and national institutions partnering with AMSSNuR.

This achievement marks a strategic milestone in strengthening the national environmental radiological monitoring system and in consolidating the Kingdom’s capabilities in the areas of early detection, alerting, and nuclear or radiological emergency management.Lors de son allocution, Monsieur MOULINE a souligné que la présence de ces hauts dignitaires et partenaires « témoigne de l’excellence du partenariat qui unit le Royaume du Maroc, l’Union européenne et le Royaume de Belgique, ainsi que de l’intérêt partagé que nous portons collectivement au renforcement de la sûreté et de la sécurité nucléaires ».

In his address, Mr. MOULINE underscored that the presence of these high-level dignitaries and partners “bears witness to the excellence of the partnership uniting the Kingdom of Morocco, the European Union, and the Kingdom of Belgium, as well as to the shared commitment we collectively hold towards strengthening nuclear safety and security.”

Speaking first, the Ambassador of the European Union hailed, at this inauguration, the involvement of all stakeholders as a tangible symbol of the EU’s commitment alongside Morocco in the field of environmental radiological monitoring. He recalled that this project is fully in line with the Strategic Partnership between the EU and Morocco, which places the protection of people and the environment at the heart of shared priorities.

The Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium, for his part, expressed Belgium’s pride in contributing, through the recognised expertise of the Belgian institute IRE-Lab, to the strengthening of Moroccan capabilities in the field of radiological monitoring. He concluded by emphasising that the installation of the probes envisaged under this project will, in due course, contribute to strengthening the Moroccan ELMARSAD network.

This project falls within the mandate entrusted to AMSSNuR under Law No. 142-12 on nuclear and radiological safety and security. It aims to support the reinforcement and extension of the ELMARSAD ambient radioactivity telemetry network through the installation of several new probes to be deployed across various regions of the Kingdom, as well as to support the establishment of a national radiological monitoring programme for the territory, with assistance provided to nationally accredited laboratories for the measurement of radioactivity in various environmental matrices. Furthermore, the project also aims to provide the necessary support to AMSSNuR in establishing a specific environmental radiological monitoring programme for nuclear or radiological emergency situations.

This inauguration ceremony thus represents a significant step forward in the process of strengthening the national environmental radiological monitoring system. It reflects AMSSNuR’s commitment to developing a reliable and high-performing national system for the detection and tracking of ambient radioactivity, in conformity with international standards on nuclear and radiological safety and security.Cette cérémonie d’inauguration constitue ainsi une avancée importante dans le processus de renforcement du dispositif national de surveillance radiologique de l’environnement. Elle traduit l’engagement de l’AMSSNuR en faveur du développement d’un système national fiable et performant de détection et de suivi de la radioactivité ambiante, conforme aux standards internationaux en matière de sûreté et de sécurité nucléaires et radiologiques.

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AMSSNuR Hosts a Working Meeting with IRE-Lab to Strengthen Radiological Monitoring of Moroccan Territory

3 April 2025

Rabat, February 26, 2025 – The Moroccan Agency for Nuclear and Radiological Safety and Security (AMSSNuR) hosted a working meeting on February 25 and 26, 2025, with officials from the National Institute for Radioelements (IRE-Lab) of Belgium. This meeting is part of Task 3 of Technical Cooperation Project No. 440-866, titled “Support to AMSSNuR for the Establishment of a Radiological Monitoring System for the Moroccan Territory.”

Co-financed by the European Commission (EC) and conducted in partnership with IRE-Lab, this cooperation project is structured around three key areas. Task 3 specifically aims to provide AMSSNuR with the necessary support to establish a national off-line radiological environmental monitoring program while strengthening accredited laboratories for environmental radioactivity measurement.

During the meeting, participants initiated discussions on implementing a radiological monitoring program for the Moroccan territory through sampling and laboratory analysis. In this context, high-risk areas—including mining sites, nuclear medicine centers, wastewater treatment plants, and seawater desalination stations—were identified and examined with IRE-Lab experts.

Based on the assessment carried out under Task 1 of the project, the currently available environmental radioactivity measurement resources in Morocco were reviewed. These findings will serve as the foundation for designing a periodic monitoring program aligned with international standards and best practices adopted in Belgium while considering Morocco’s national capabilities.

Furthermore, Task 3 of the project includes conducting audits of accredited radioactivity measurement laboratories, identifying areas for improvement, and organizing inter-comparison exercises. Training sessions tailored to the needs of laboratories, particularly on ISO 17025 standards, are also planned.

This working meeting marks the second activity under Task 3, following the launch meeting held on September 11 and 12, 2024, which brought together representatives from the National Center for Energy, Nuclear Science, and Technology (CNESTEN) and the National Center for Radiation Protection (CNRP). The first meeting allowed laboratories from both institutions to present their fields of expertise and their needs in environmental monitoring.

Ultimately, Task 3 of this technical cooperation project represents a strategic opportunity to strengthen collaboration between AMSSNuR and accredited environmental radioactivity measurement laboratories. By leveraging IRE-Lab’s expertise, this initiative directly contributes to protecting the public and the environment from the risks associated with ionizing radiation.

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