IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Ibero-American Forum of Radiation and Nuclear Safety Regulatory Agencies (FORO) in Madrid, Spain, on 22 July. (Photo: D. Candano/IAEA)
On Friday, Mr Grossi joined high-level officials to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Ibero-American Forum of Radiation and Nuclear Safety Regulatory Agencies (FORO).
FORO was established in 1997 to foster the exchange of information and good practices among its member countries, which now include Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Spain and Uruguay. Since its inception, FORO and the IAEA have cooperated to strengthen nuclear safety and security across the Ibero-American region.
The two have completed 15 projects related to the standardization of inspections for nuclear research reactors, emergency preparedness and response, licensing criteria and inspection programmes, control and transport of radioactive material, and tools such as SEVRRA – a system to evaluate risk in radiotherapy, among others. Seven joint projects are ongoing, and six IAEA-FORO technical documents have been developed, most recently one on safety culture published in Spanish in April 2022. “With increased opportunities for nuclear to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges, such as climate change and cancer, the international cooperation of regulators is of utmost importance,” Mr Grossi said.
Spain became a member of the IAEA in 1957 and has seven nuclear power reactors in operation, providing 20 per cent of the country’s electricity. The country has contributed to the IAEA by allocating experts, hosting fellowship and scientific visits, providing extrabudgetary funding and supporting the Agency’s nuclear decommissioning and waste management activities. In March 2019, Spain’s Guardia Civil Training Centre became the first law enforcement organization to be designated an IAEA Collaborating Centre in Nuclear Security.
