Foreword

In this foreword the Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Authority of the Slovak Republic (NRA SR) explains the role of these authority to assure safe operation of NPPs in Slovakia. The NRA SR has been established on January 1, 1993, as an independent governmental body at a level equivalent to other ministries having a direct access to the the Government and to the National Council of the Slovak Republic. The Authority performs the function of the state supervision in the field of nuclear safety of nuclear facilities including treatment of radioactive wastes, spent nuclear fuel and other phases of the fuel cycle, state supervision of nuclear materials including their control and accounting and of quality of selected nuclear equipment and instruments. The Authority is also responsible for fulfillment of obligations of the Slovak Republic arising from international agreements related to nuclear safety of nuclear facilities and use of nuclear materials. The state supervision is legally based on the law, particularly the Act No. 28/1984. After three years of its establishment the NRA SR is basically completed both in terms of personnel as well as equipment. At the end of 1995, staff number reached 70. In 1995, local computer networks as part of the central information system have been put into operation. In April 1995, based on support provided by the UK Government, opening of the Emergency Response Centre of the NRA SR has been celebrated which provides a tool for management of accident situations in nuclear power plants with potential radiological consequences. Intensity of work of the Authority is characterized besides other by 362 performed inspections and 135 issued resolutions. As significant result the elaboration of principles of the Act on Peaceful uses of nuclear energy as well as elaboration of several decrees and safety guides is considered. The next achievements are: election of the Chairman of the NRA SR as a Vice-chairman of the IAEA Board of Governors; request of the IAEA to share experiences of the NRA SR with the state regulatory bodies in Ukraine and Armenia; visit of the IAEA Director General to Slovakia in October 1995