The Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Commission (NRRC) is the entity responsible for regulating the activities, practices, and facilities engaged in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Its main mission is to protect humans and the environment against any actual or potential radiation exposure, including exposure to natural radiation, in addition to implementing the Kingdom's obligations under relevant agreements and conventions.
Establishment of the Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Commission
The commission was founded on March 13, 2018, upon the approval of the Council of Ministers. The use of radiation technology in the Kingdom dates back to the early 1960s when radiation technology was mainly used in oil and gas exploration activities, which were previously supervised by the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources. Over the past two decades, the use of radiation applications has developed in various fields, including medical and industrial applications, energy, and other sectors.
NRRC tasks
The NRRC is mandated with many tasks, notably monitoring the import, export, trade, and control of nuclear materials; enacting regulations for nuclear safety, security, and safeguards; raising awareness regarding the hazards of nuclear radiation; setting the necessary requirements in preparation for nuclear and radiological emergencies; inspecting and monitoring activities, practices, and facilities that fall within its competence; and representing the Kingdom before the International Atomic Energy Agency and international organizations related to its activity.
On April 11, 2018, the Council of Ministers approved the Law of Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage and the Law of Nuclear and Radiological Control, the latter law dictates the imposition of strict penalties, including imprisonment and a fine of up to SAR30 million, equivalent to USD8 million, against every person who commits any of the dictated violations, the most notable of which are:
- The unlicensed delivery, possession, use, transport, alteration, dispersion, modification, or disposal of nuclear materials.
- Any breach of commission laws relating to nuclear safety, security, or safeguards resulting in substantial damage or hazard to people or the environment.
- Theft, robbery, embezzlement, or fraudulent acquisition of nuclear or radioactive materials.
- Illegal transfer of nuclear or radioactive materials from or into the Kingdom.
- Any action considered to be a request to obtain nuclear or radioactive materials through the use of threat, force, or any other form of intimidation.
- Threat to use nuclear or radioactive materials to cause death or serious bodily harm to any person or to cause serious damage to property or the environment, or to compel a person, an international organization, or a state to carry out an act or refrain therefrom.
Organization of the NRRC
The NRRC has a legal personality and administrative autonomy. It has an independent annual budget issued in accordance with the arrangements for the state's general budget. It reports to the Prime Minister, and its civilian employees are subject to the Labor Law and Social Security Law. According to the Law of Nuclear and Radiological Control, it is prohibited for any person to disclose any confidential information relating to the physical protection of nuclear material or communicate, without authorization, any information to a third party, or facilitate access thereto.
The commission runs its business from its headquarters in the capital, Riyadh. It has a board of directors chaired by the Minister of Energy, Prince Abdulaziz Bin Salman. The Board administers the commission's affairs and takes all decisions necessary for achieving its objectives.
The NRRC has a chief executive officer, who is appointed and dismissed by a decision of the Board of Directors. He is responsible for managing the commission’s affairs, particularly arranging for the commission’s participation in local, regional, and international conferences, symposia, and exhibitions. According to the organizational arrangements, the commission is the national point of contact with regard to agreements and pacts to which the Kingdom is a party. Furthermore, the CEO is responsible, among other things, for representing the commission before the judiciary and government agencies in the Kingdom and abroad.
NRRC role under the Saudi Vision 2030
The commission was established two years after the announcement of Saudi Vision 2030, as the Kingdom announced its plans to move from an oil-based economy to a diversified and productive economy. The Kingdom's most prominent national policies for the Atomic Energy Program included: restricting all atomic development activities to peaceful purposes in compliance with the legislation, international treaties, and agreements; achieving nuclear safety and security standards in nuclear and radiological facilities, according to an independent regulatory and supervisory framework; in addition to achieving sustainability by developing local content in the atomic energy sector; and full adherence to the principle of transparency in the regulatory and operational aspects.
Related quizzes
Related articles
