Nuclear Law Institute: 13 Years of Capacity-Building in Nuclear Law

The Nuclear Law Institute (NLI) started on 30 September 2024 and is an annual two-week course launched by the IAEA in 2011 in response to demand from countries around the world for greater capacity-building in nuclear law. On this occasion, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi addressed 64 lawyers, regulators, and other officials from 59 countries around the world participating in the course. The course aims to equip participants with a solid understanding of all aspects of nuclear law and to enable them to draft, amend, or review national nuclear legislation.

In his keynote address on the future prospects of nuclear law, Mr Grossi said, “This is a critical time for nuclear law. More and more people are relying on nuclear science to meet their most basic needs: from clean energy, reliable food and water supplies, to curing diseases, mitigating pollution, and adapting to the environmental impacts of climate change. The NLI is the IAEA’s key training programme on nuclear law and legislative drafting.”

This is a critical time for nuclear law. More and more people are relying on nuclear science to meet their most basic needs: from clean energy, reliable food and water supplies, to curing diseases, mitigating pollution, and adapting to the environmental impacts of climate change. pic.twitter.com/AOG5cdIdFK

— Rafael Mariano Grossi (@rafaelmgrossi) September 30, 2024

This year, a panel discussion on “Nuclear Law and the Nuclear Power Programme Newcomers” was held on 3 October 2024 with Ambassador Hamad Alkaabi, Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates to the IAEA, Samina Jayasekara, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Regulatory Council, Justus Wabuyabo, Chief Executive Officer of the Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA) Kenya, and Fanny Tonos-Paniagua, Nuclear Engineer in the IAEA Division of Nuclear Power. The discussion was moderated by Anthony Wetherall, Head of the Nuclear and Treaty Law Section of the IAEA Office of Legal Affairs.

Participants from around the world shared their insights and experiences while attending the NLI, highlighting how the programme has enhanced their understanding of nuclear law and contributed to their professional growth.

Bruno Laonta Kambire from the Permanent Mission of Burkina Faso to the IAEA said, “The Nuclear Law Institute is extremely valuable for the capacity-building of human resources in nuclear law in Member States. It enables us to understand the need for a robust and comprehensive legal framework to achieve our country’s ambitions in line with our international commitments.”

“As the Philippines is in the process of adopting a comprehensive nuclear law, I am pleased to participate in the Nuclear Law Institute, which allows me to gain knowledge and experience in drafting nuclear law, as well as to understand the relevant technical and legal concepts in this field,” said Jamie Lyn Daileg, Legislative Committee Secretary, Senate of the Philippines.

Rafael Arturo Munoz Canizalez from the Directorate of Energy, Hydrocarbons and Mines of El Salvador stated, “This is a great opportunity to participate in the NLI, as a continuation of the legislative assistance that the IAEA has provided to El Salvador in the development of our nuclear legislation.”

This training was carried out within the framework of the IAEA Legislative Assistance Programme under the Interregional Technical Cooperation project for legislative assistance.