Development of safety performance indicators of regulatory interest (SAFPER) in Pakistan

Safety performance indicators provide a very useful tool for monitoring operational safety of a nuclear power plant. Utilities in many countries have developed plant specific indicators for the assessment of their performance and safety. Regulators can make use of some of these indicators for their regulatory assessment. In addition to these regulatory bodies in some countries have also developed programs for the formulation of safety performance indicators which are used in monitoring operational safety and regulatory decision making. Realizing its usefulness Directorate of Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection (DNSRP-the regulatory body in Pakistan) has also initiated a country specific program for the development of Safety Performance Indicators (SAFPER) based on data provided by the utility and that collected during the course of regulatory inspections. Selected areas of NPP operation to be monitored are: - Significant events; - Safety systems performance; - Barriers integrity; - Environment protection; - Workers radiation safety; and - Emergency Preparedness. One of the objectives of this program is also to monitor the effectiveness of DNSRP regulatory activities. IAEA framework is taken as one of the bases for our program. Safety performance will be assessed on the basis of Performance Indicators and inspection findings. DNSRP program as shown in Appendix includes the indicators in use and under development. It is felt that the term Safety Performance Indicators may be termed as 'SAFPER Indicators' to be used by the Regulators, as it is clear from this presentation that utility safety performance indicators together with the regulatory effectiveness indicators constitute the measure for the adequate safety to the public and the environment. Additional research is still necessary for: - indicator definition for the proposed and under developed indicators; - data collection systems; - thresholds; - trend analysis; - goal setting (benefit from the trend can be enhanced only if meaningful goals and targets are established); - analysis of overall plant performance; - safety culture indicator (qualitative indicator). Some of the indicators, like Sudden outages, unavailability of Safety Systems, Collective Radiation Exposure, Station Effluents, are analysed under Operating Performance parameter of KANUPP Report for the period 1994-1998. As observed from the findings by DNSRP inspectors and corrective actions taken by KANUPP during regulatory inspections and the trend analysis of the safety performance indicators for Workers Radiation Safety it can be concluded that the Regulatory Body in Pakistan is performing its responsibility in an effective manner with the co-operation of the Management of the Utility. It is concluded that the general trend observed during this study is expected from an old plant like KANUPP. The encouraging aspect which matters for the Regulators is the trend observed for the radiation dose internal to external ratio for the period 1994 to 1998. This ratio has started decreasing now after doing some maintenance work. Another important parameter of safety concern is the number of forced outages which have been decreasing from 1994 to 1998. Kanupp is facing operational problems mainly due to its Ageing and some other maintenance activities. These conditions can cause safety concerns that, if not appropriately addressed, would require the licensee to shut down the plant. This deficiency will be rectified to a large extent when the effort to produce a revised full scope PSAR is complete, and a new license issued. (author)