Regulatory and management approach for TENORM in Nigeria

Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (TENORM) has for a long time been recognized from two main sectors of the Nigerian economy, the petroleum and mining industries. The petroleum industry is large and has been active for over 40 years. There are proven reserves of over 30 billion barrels and a daily production of 2 million barrels each with about 1000 standard cubic feet (scf) of associated gas. The mining industry has been dominated by tin mining and processing for over six decades and these have generated extensive mine tailings that are rich in zircon, monazite, ilmenite and thorite which are highly enriched in thorium and uranium. There had been no radiation protection and safety enforcement in Nigeria until the establishment of the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) in 2001. The NNRA has now drafted a regulation for the management of TENORM in the country in collaboration with relevant government agencies in charge of minerals and environment. The regulations are to apply to any person who generates, possesses, uses, transfers or disposes of TENORM. It exempts materials containing or contaminated at concentrations less than 185 Bq/kg of 226Ra or 228Ra. The regulations provide for a general and specific licence and persons subject to a licence under these regulations are to comply with radiation protection standards set out in the Nigeria Basic Ionizing Radiation Regulations 2003. (author)