Development and Implementation of National

Policy and Strategy for Radioactive Waste in line

with the IAEA Safety Standard (16-20 June 2014)

Hanoi, Vietnam

Mr. Bo Bo Mya Win

Department of Atomic Energy

Ministry of Science and Technology

Myanmar

Outline

I. About Department of Atomic Energy,

Ministry of Science and Technology

II. About radioactive waste management

in Myanmar

III. About Legislation and Regulatory

Framework

Part I.

About Department of Atomic Energy, Ministry of

Science and Technology

MOST (Ministry of Science and Technology)

- Established on 2nd Oct 1996.

DAE ( Department of Atomic Energy )

- Established under the Ministry of Science and Technology in 1997.

- Acts as a regulatory body concerning all aspects of atomic energy

and nuclear technology related activities.

- Responsible for control, security and safe management of radiation

sources and radioactive materials used in Myanmar.

- Responsible for carrying out research and development in radioactive

waste management.

- Aims to develop and promote peaceful utilization of nuclear technology

in Myanmar.

- Responsible for communication and cooperation with foreign research

institutes and organizations relating to Atomic Energy

Organization Chart Regarding Department of Atomic Energy

Ministry of Science &

Technology

Dept. of Atomic Energy

Radiation Protection Dept.

Reactor & Isotope Dept.

Radiation Application Dept.

Administration & Finance Dept.

Regulatory Control

Division Food & Environmental

Monitoring Division

Occupational & Medical Exposure

Control Division Waste Management &

Transport Division

Regular Monitoring

Although clearly-defined policies have not yet been

established for clearance from regulatory control, discharge

control and waste management, regular monitoring is

performed both at the source of discharge and in the

environment by the Department of Atomic Energy.

Codes of Practice and Guidance notes

Code of Practice for nuclear medicine has been developed by the

Ministry of Health

Code of Practice on occupational radiation protection, public protection,

medical exposure control, radioactive waste management and transport

of radioactive materials are being prepared by DAE.

Some guidance notes in local language.

Inspecting and testing machinery and equipment relating to atomic energy;

Determining nuclear material, radioactive material or irradiation apparatus, that is not suitable for further utilization or retention.

Issuing registration certificates for keeping in possession of the radioactive materials or radiation apparatus;

Issuing license for utilization, production, storage, distribution or sale of the radioactive material or radiation apparatus;

Granting prior permission for import or export of the radioactive material or radiation apparatus.

Supervising the performance of duties and functions of the inspectors

The Regulatory body has taken responsibility for:

Notification and National Register of Radiation

Sources:

the software used

RAIS (Regulatory Authority Information System) version 3.0 which is a

tool being developed by IAEA for Regulatory Authorities

collected the list of the private clinics and hospitals with the help of

Ministry of Health

register and license all radioactive sources by DAE with

authorization by Ministry of Science and Technology

Inspection

DAE officers have done inspection for private companies and government services since 1997.

Radiation detectors used

– digital kVP Meter Model 230, Digital X-Ray Exposure Timer Model 231A and Neon beam analyzer.

– ALERT Monitor 4 and Series 1000, mini-rad are used

clinics and hospitals are being inspected not only for radiation leakage but also for quality control of their X-ray machines.

Food &Environmental Monitoring Division has

taken responsibility for:

Radioactivity monitoring and certification of imported diary

products and exported agricultural products.

Low Level Alpha/ Beta counting system (CANBERRA 2401),

NaI detector are used for measuring the radioactivity in food.

Monitoring the radiation levels in rain water and air samples.

GM counter, Low Level Alpha/ Beta counting system

(CANBERRA 2401) are used for measuring the beta activity

of a sample (air filter or rain water).

Occupational Radiation Protection

DAE is extending personnel dosimeter services to the radiation workers on national level.

TLD badges are distributed to the workers to wear during their duty hours.

Checked the exposure dosage every 2 months.

Received an average dose of 0.5 mSv/2 months.

Sources of Public Radiation Exposure in Myanmar

Radioactive Effluents released into the Atmosphere and into

the Water

(From agricultural and industrial applications)

Radioactive waste from disused radioactive sources and

equipment

(From medical and industrial applications)

Control of Public Exposure

Public exposure is controlled by sufficient thickness of shielding

material and control of access.

Registry, inventory and safe storage of unused radioactive sources

and materials.

Radioactivity measurement in rainwater and air samples.

Radioactivity monitoring and certification of imported diary

products and agricultural products for export.

Safe management of radioactive waste.

DAE has taken responsibility for:

Part II.

About radioactive waste management in

Myanmar

Classification of Radioactive Wastes

Cleared material/ waste

Low level (short-lived)/ Decay waste

Low and immediate level short-lived waste (LILW-SL)

Low and immediate level long-lived waste (LILW-LL)

High level waste (HLW)

To classify waste, it depends on the types of materials

and the level of radioactivity

Low-level waste were stored in Myanmar

High-level waste were re-exported to Manufacturer

Waste Management & Transport Division has taken

responsibility for:

Waste management in medical practices

Waste management in industrial applications and research

Registry and safe storage of radioactive waste

Transport of radioactive sources

Re-exportation of sources to the country of origin

Application of radiation in Myanmar

The use of ionizing radiation and radiation sources

The various area such as radiotherapy, radio diagnosis,

nuclear medicine, medical research, agricultural services,

livestock breeding, environmental radiation monitoring,

training and research etc., ionizing radiation and

radioisotopes have been widely applied in the country.

Main Radioactive Waste Producers in Myanmar

Industries

Medicine

Agricultural Services

Industries

In Myanmar International Airways , Myanmar Heavy Industry and

Myanmar Railways Transportation , radiation sources are used as

analytical tools.

The fixed sealed sources are being used for measurement of physical

parameters such as density, volume, thickness, level, etc.

The radioactive sources are being used by Myanmar Oil Corporation

in the exploration of natural resources.

The sources in solid form require little processing before disposal as

radioactive waste.

The users deposit their sources at their own temporary storage where

these are stored in accordance with the IAEA guidelines

Medicine

The radioisotope commonly use in nuclear medicine are Am 241,Ba

133, Co-60,Cs-137,Sr-90,etc;. The Ra-226 had been used as

brachytherapy source for treatment of cancer.

As IAEA offer to know the amount of Radium, two Korean experts

and one IAEA technical officer in Oct 2000 keep them as the waste

safely and systematically.

Radium needles and tubes are used in YGH and MGH.

1429.5mg of spent radium sources were safely conditioned by Korea expert team under the supervision of IAEA technical officer and under the control of DAE authority

Encapsulated in 27 small capsules and three large capsules and conditioned in 3 lead shields, producing 3 packages.

The inventories were distributed into 3 shielding devices, holding 500, 459.5 and 470 mg.

Radium Conditioning Operating

Cooperation with IAEA and DAE for Radium

conditioning at Yangon General Hospital (12-10-2000)

Storage Room

6/19/2014 24

IRRADATION FACILITIES

Myanmar Agricultural Services-

γ-chamber ; 4000 Ci

installed in 1973

under supervision of IAEA

Sent back to the manufacture in

2000

γ-chamber ; 5300 Ci

installed in 1983

under supervision of IAEA

it is not used

No Functioning

Department of Atomic

Energy

γ-chamber ; 12000 Ci

installed in 2000

under supervision of IAEA

supported by BARC use for

educational purposes and

research work

Functioning

Natural radioactivity in Myanmar

The extent of human activities that enhance the level of natural radioactivity (including NORM) is still very small.

The potential risks posed to the public and the environment by radioactive residues used in medicine and industry are thus low.

Only low-level natural radioactivity has been found from past practices.

Part III.

Legislation and Regulatory Framework

Legislation and Regulatory Framework

• Past Situation

• Atomic Energy Law enacted in 1998

• Regulation was waiting for approval

• Present Situation

• Existing Atomic Energy Law is Under Review and drafting.

• Regulation on this AEL is at the preparation stage.

• Drafting new Nuclear Safety Law

• Regulation on this NSL is at the preparation stage.

Existing Atomic Energy Law

• Enacted on 8th June 1998

• Consists of 39 Articles in 14 Chapters

• Primarily provided for ensuring safety in the utilization of

radioactive material and irradiation apparatus.

• Regulation of Radioactive Waste Management will be

included as a one of the chapters in the new Nuclear Safety

Law based on the IAEA Safety Standard Ser ies.

• In new Nuclear Safety Law, waste procedures and

emergency preparedness will be included.

Law on of Radioactive Waste(and Spent fuel)

Management

CONCLUSION

At present, we do not have nuclear power plant, research reactors or fuel

cycle facilities and as such we do not have problems related to high level

waste but appropriate measures are to be taken for disposal of these

sources if any.

All the departments using ionizing radiation sources have followed the

IAEA Safety Rules and Standard with care and caution, no radiation

hazard or accident or incident has ever occurred at all.

Safety and radiation protections are being taken as much as possible to

comply with relevant IAEA regulations.

Radioactive waste generated outside the territory of the Republic of the

Union of Myanmar shall not be imported into the Republic of the Union of

Myanmar for any purpose.

Experiences and knowledge will gain from this training and will be useful

in implementing Waste Management Programme in Myanmar.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH

FOR

YOUR ATTENTION