NPPD
Nuclear Power Plant Development
ABOUT NPPD
The Nuclear Power Plant Development (NPPD) Directorate currently headed by Prof. Abdullahi Mati, is a key technical Directorate of the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) in the implementation of the nuclear power (NP) Programme of Nigeria. Consistent with the overall strategy of the Commission for the implementation of the Nigeria Nuclear Power Programme (NNPP), NPPD is playing the lead roles in catalyzing the execution of many key activities of the Commission. The Directorate also has a well-developed work flow system and communication structure with job matrix encompassing the entire staff cadre tailored to the 19 IAEA milestone elements and career orientations.
MANDATE AND OPERATIONAL OBJECTIVES OF NPPD DIRECTORATE
In conformity with the goals, mission and vision of the Commission, the mandate of the Directorate is to ensure the success of the Commission in fast-tracking and catalyzing the process of development and deployment of nuclear power plants for electricity generation in Nigeria, in partnership with the private sector. Additionally, as encapsulated in the Commission’s policy targets and objectives, the Operational Objectives of the Directorate are to:
- Ensure the successful implementation of the approved nuclear roadmap by emplacing the fundamental strategies for the execution of the NNPP.
- Fast-track and catalyze the development of pertinent NPI which entails:
- identifying, engaging and coordinating relevant national stakeholders in the NP implementation programmes and activities for synergy.
- Addressing critical NP programme enablers while facilitating the development of nuclear-inclusive policies that may impact the NPP project.
- Emplacing effective framework and mechanism for the timely engagement of relevant stakeholders in relation to their unique roles in the NP programme implementation.
- Evaluate and review NAEC’s NP programme implementation strategies in conformity with the fundamental nuclear safety principles.
DIRECTORATE WORK FLOW AND COMMUNICATION STRUCTURE
In conformity with the Commission’s organizational structure to meet with its mandate and policy objectives, the Directorate has emplaced an effective internal work flow system and communication structure to engender efficiency and reduce redundancy of staff within the department. In this regard, staff of the Directorate have been categorized into various sub-units consistent with the IAEA 19 infrastructure elements. Consequently, job responsibility of each staff has been streamlined to effectively fit into the department’s operational objectives and staff career orientations.
TECHNICAL MEETINGS, FELLOWSHIPS, WORKSHOPS AND TRAINING PROGRAMMES
In order to enhance staff capacity development and productivity, Staff of the Directorate have attended over 50 Technical Meetings, Fellowships, Workshop and Training Programmes tailored to their areas of specialization and duties. Details of these are contained in the developed NPPD Compendium.
NUCLEAR POWER INFRASRUCTURE (NPI) DEVELOPMENT
The core activities of NPPD in relation to NAEC’s mandate and policy objectives are, substantially, in the implementation of the technical aspects of the Nuclear Power Infrastructure (NPI) that would sustain the NP programme and to support the non-technical aspects. Thus, the policy thrusts of the Directorate have been in the development of requisite action plans and programmes, coordination of stakeholders involvement and activities in the NNPP, facilitation of pertinent nuclear power programme enablers in aspects of legislative and regulatory frameworks, etc., inspection and evaluation of specific national infrastructure for the NPP project in aspects of electric grid, NPP siting & site accessibility infrastructure, etc. and the implementation of the various technical and thematic areas of NPI.
Consequently, in line with the IAEA 19 nuclear infrastructure elements and consistent with the phased implementation of the NNPP, the activities and achievements of NPPD under the thematic areas of the NPI are as follows:
I. NUCLEAR POWER PLANT (NPP) SITING ACTIVITIES
The NPP siting activities were implemented in three phases.
Phase 1: This involved the inauguration of the Committee on NPP Site Selection to determine possible sites within the territory of Nigeria for the first set of NPPs in 2007; Second and third meetings of the technical committee on site selection in 2007; Development of site selection criteria and work plan for the committee’s Terms of Reference (ToR); Review of available information on previous efforts at determining suitable sites for NPPs; Development and finalization of the Interim Report of the Technical Committee to Determine Possible Sites for Nigeria’s First NPPs (TECDOC/SSF-TR-1007) in 2007; First IAEA Expert Mission (EM) / Workshop (WS) on Siting of Nuclear Power Plants in Nigeria to fine-tune the NPP siting process in 2007; Preliminary site survey to streamline probable areas for siting NPP, 2008; Development of site visitation report; Coordination of the involvement of national stakeholder organizations and Technical Support Organizations (TSOs) throughout the first phase of NPP siting; Acquisition, collation and storage of relevant data throughout the first phase of NPP siting; Review and harmonization of documents and reports of the technical committee throughout the first phase of NPP siting.
Phase 2: This commenced in February, 2009 with the constitution of the Site Evaluation Project Team (SEPT) and activities carried out include Development of stringent and more technical criteria based on IAEA Guide NS-R-3; Integration of recommendations from previous IAEA EM on siting; Report on the technical characteristics of the identified probable sites; Development of SEPT work plan template and document control system to ensure quality assurance (QA) of site assessment, 2009; Field study / site investigation; Collation and harmonization of SEPT technical reports for preliminary site ranking; Development of site ranking reports; IAEA Expert Mission/Workshop on regulatory requirements for Site Selection and Evaluation of NPP, 2009; Development of Preliminary Site Evaluation Report (TECDOC/SSF-TR-0710); Coordination of national stakeholder organizations and Technical Support Organizations (TSOs) throughout the second phase of NPP siting.
Phase 3: The activities of the Third phase of siting include Review, harmonization and development of SEPT reports; Integration of recommendations of previous IAEA EM on siting; Site data analyses and selection of four candidate sites; IAEA EM/WS on Site Selection and Pre-evaluation of Areas/Sites for nuclear power facilities, 2012; Detailed site ranking; Development of site selection and evaluation report; Coordination of the national stakeholder organizations and Technical Support Organizations (TSOs) throughout the third phase of NPP siting; Continuous update of the site selection and evaluation report in line with IAEA mission recommendations.
In line with the IAEA INIR Mission, 2015 report recommendation on siting (R-12.1.1), the Directorate has finalized the consolidated site report.
II. ELECTRIC GRID
The Commission, through the Directorate has been facilitating the development of grid appropriateness of TCN for electricity evacuation from NPP. NPPD’s activities in this regard include: IAEA EM/WS on Grid appropriateness and technical compliance of a new NPP and grid – June 2009; Collaborating with TCN on Grid matters; Facilitation of training for key TCN personnel on grid appropriateness as it relates to evacuation from NPP; Monitoring the implementation of the national grid enhancement plan; Monitoring the activities in the national electricity generation and the impact of government power reforms.
III. EMERGENCY PLANNING
The Commission, in collaboration with National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has been facilitating the development of an emergency response plan In relation to NPP. NPPD’s activities in this regard include: Participation in the development of the National Nuclear And Radiological Emergency Plan, 2010 – (SHDOC/EP-DP-1010); Participation in the development of the National Nuclear And Radiological Emergency Plan, 2014 – (SHDOC/EP-DP-1410); Collaboration with NEMA on the development of the Nuclear and Radiological Emergency Response Plan (2013 – 2015); Facilitation of training for key NEMA personnel on nuclear emergency planning; Participation in the Emergency Preparedness Review (EPREV) mission with the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) in collaboration with the IAEA (2015).
IV. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
The activities of the Directorate in environmental protection include the conduct of the National Workshop on Managing EIA for Construction and Operation in New Nuclear Power Programmes.
V. FUEL CYCLE AND RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
The Directorate facilitated the development of the Nigeria Radioactive Waste Management Policy and Strategy Framework (TECDOC/RWM-DP-1212).
VI. STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVEMENT
The activities of NPPD in this area include the coordination of the Self-Evaluation exercise for national stakeholders in preparation for IAEA Pre-INIR and INIR missions, the development of the draft document on Public Awareness and Communications Strategy (PACS) for NNPP, anchoring the NEPIC meeting in June 2016 and coordinating the National Workshop/Expert Mission on Fundamentals of Stakeholders Involvement in the Nigeria Nuclear Power Programme (NNPP).
VII. NPP PROJECT DEVELOPMENT
Within the framework of the implementation of the Russia Federation – Nigeria Government (RF-NG) Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) on NPP, the Directorate is responsible for facilitating and coordinating the discussions and negotiations on the Technical Aspect of NPP project within the Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) and the Joint Working Group (JWG) frameworks. This involves: Coordination of the IGA meetings between the Russian Party and the Nigerian Party; facilitation of the implementation of Joint work plan; and facilitation of the meetings and correspondences of the JWG on nuclear infrastructure.
OTHER ACTIVITIES OF NPPD DIRECTORATE
For the achievement of the Directorate’s mandate and operational objectives, NPPD has carried out several activities as mapped out by the Commission aimed at the execution of the national nuclear roadmap including:
i. the formulation of strategies for the development and implementation of pertinent Nuclear Power Infrastructure (NPI) that will sustainably support the premier Nuclear Power Plants (NPP) project.
ii. Since the constitution and inauguration of the Site Selection Committee in 2007, just after the activation of the Commission, NPPD has been coordinating all programmes and activities in line with the phased approach of the national nuclear roadmap.
iii. Coordinating the activities of participating national stakeholder organizations for synergy.
iv. The facilitation of interactions and understanding of stakeholders’ roles, responsibilities and involvement in the NNPP.
v. The facilitation of the development of nuclear-conscious government’s policies in regulations and infrastructure planning.
vi. The development and collation of all NAEC documents.
vii. Establishment of documents control via the production of documents and coding.
viii. The implementation of specific action plans that engender transparency with respect to IAEA milestones approach.
viii. Development of the NPPD Compendium amongst others.
Furthermore, since the reconstitution of NAEC as a full-fledged Commission in 2011, NPPD has been performing various oversight functions of the Commissions programmes/activities audit which resulted in:
i. The development of annual Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) report to the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN).
ii. The development of annual Key Performance Indicators (KPI) report.
iii. The development of Digest of Statistics for the Commission.
iv. The periodic monitoring of infrastructure projects across the Nuclear Energy Research Centres (NERCs).
v. The development of project framework for budget planning.
vi. The development of framework for participating in government intervention funds such as STEP-B.
vii. Initiating NAEC documents coding and control for safety and security.
viii. The development and updating of the Country Nuclear Power Profile (CNPP) for the IAEA website amongst others.
For efficient operational administration and supervision, the Directorate instituted the following activities:
i. Departmental seminar series was initiated to enable knowledge sharing and transfer. Series of seminars were presented by staff and invited professionals. NAEC seminars from the Directorate are being planned.
ii. Regular Departmental meetings with the Deputy Director (NPPD) were held for appraisal purposes and to engender improvement in staff productivity.
iii. Directorate Meet-the-Commissioner tea meetings were organized for departmental chat with the Commissioner (NPPD). This is to encourage a questioning attitude of staff aimed at the entrenchment of safety and security culture in the Directorate.
POLICY DOCUMENTS
The NPPD Directorate has anchored and actively participated in the development and review of various national/NAEC policy documents such as the National Strategic Plan for the Implementation of the Nuclear Power Programme in Nigeria (SP-15), Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage, Self-Evaluation Report (SER – 2015), National Nuclear and Radiological Emergency Plan, Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL), National Energy Policy, amongst others.