Developing TSO Capabilities: Specific Challenges for Embarking Countries

The role of TSO structures as an integral component of the national regulatory infrastructure for nuclear safety, security, and radiation protection has been on the agenda of international discussions in the context of IAEA for over a decade. It is today commonly understood that a TSO capability is an essential instrument to successfully implement over time the science-based nature of nuclear safety, in a proactive manner in the context of ever evolving technologies, environmental and economic conditions, as well as societal expectations for protection. However, there is no "one size fits all" model for a TSO national construct. Indeed, the attributions and missions, resources, and governance of TSO's differ widely from one country to another. Moreover, there is little publicly available information about the historic processes that led to the current TSO systems as they can be seen to operate today in mature nuclear countries. The paper recalls how nuclear safety in the context of a country equipped with nuclear power plants is a long term challenge that requires specific policies to ensure sustainability. It further explains how, in the case of embarking countries in particular, the development of a national TSO capability may help contribute to ensuring this necessary sustainability, and can therefore form part of a pertinent national strategy.. It draws attention on the usefulness of international cooperation in this field.