ENSREG
Published on ENSREG (http://ensreg.eu)

Home > ENSREG<br/> at a glance > Nuclear energy in the EU > Croatia

Croatia

Nuclear regulatory authority

The State Office for Radiological and Nuclear Safety (SORNS) is founded by Act on Radiological and Nuclear Safety as an independent regulatory authority responsible for activities relating to radiological and nuclear safety and security and cooperation with the IAEA and other relevant international institutions.

The SORNS reports directly to the Government of the Republic of Croatia and the Director of SORNS has been appointed by the Government. The SORNS is funded from the state budget only.

The SORNS is dealing with regulatory, inspection and technical tasks, tasks related to licensing, keeping central register of ionizing sources and nuclear material as well as of exposed workers’ doses,  tests on the presence of the type and intensity of ionizing radiation in the environment, the early exchange of information in case of nuclear emergencies, assistance in the event of a nuclear accident, international cooperation in the field of nuclear safety, safety of nuclear facility, trade, transport and handling of nuclear materials, accounting for and control of all nuclear facilities and materials, physical protection of nuclear facilities and materials, expert assistance in activities for preventing illicit trafficking in nuclear material, liability for nuclear damage, quality assurance and other tasks defined in positive legislation.

Nuclear activities

There are no nuclear installations in the Republic of Croatia, but in the early eighties of the last century state power utilities of Croatia and Slovenia constructed the Krško nuclear power plant (Krško NPP) on the territory of the Republic of Slovenia.

Presently, two states share the nuclear liability and the ownership of the Krško NPP. In March 2003 the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Croatia and the Government of the Republic of Slovenia on the Regulation of the Status and other legal Relationships, Connected with Investments in the NEK, its Exploatation and Decommissioning was signed.

Concerning Krško NPP licensing and operation, the Croatian regulatory body was the authority competent to provide appropriate consents. Nowadays, the Croatian regulatory body does not play any role concerning this issue. The Slovenian regulatory body, Slovenian Nuclear Safety Authority, is in charge to license Krško NPP operators, to review operation and modifications as well as to carry out regulatory inspections.

Radioactive waste and spent fuel management

There is only a small quantity of institutional radioactive waste in the Republic of Croatia. The Republic of Croatia has a system in place that is capable of carrying out all tasks in the management of this waste, in compliance with international recommendations and best practices. Safe management will continue through the setting up of central storage, whereby such solutions shall be decided upon in a transparent manner, along with providing complete information to the public.

The Republic of Croatia will take the necessary steps in seeking out a safe and efficient solution for management of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel generated from the operation of the Krško nuclear power plant. According to the Agreement between two Governments, mentioned earlier, Contracting Parties agreed to ensure effective joint solution for decommissioning and disposal of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel from both the economic and environmental protection standpoint. If Contracting Parties failed to agree on a common solution about disposing radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel until the end of plant lifetime, they are both bound to complete acceptance and transport of both radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel from location of Krško NPP, each half of it.

Main legal instruments

The Act on Radiological and Nuclear Safety (O.G. 141/2013) establishes measures for safety and protection against ionizing radiation and measures for physical protection in performing nuclear activities and practices involving sources of ionizing radiation and is fully harmonized with all EU legislation. There is a number of ordinances established by this Act that regulates specific fields.

Also related to these issues are Dangerous Goods Transport Act (O.G. 79/2007) and Regulation on measures for protection against ionizing radiation and interventions in case of emergency (O.G. 102/2012).

Based on the Croatian Constitution, all the announced and ratified international treaties also form an integral part of the Croatian legislation and can be applied directly. So the following international legal instruments, to which Croatia is a party, should be mentioned as a part of Croatian legislative framework:
  • Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage,
  • Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material,
  • Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident,
  • Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident of Radiological Emergency,
  • Convention on Nuclear Safety,
  • Joint Protocol Relating to the Application of the Vienna Convention and the Paris Convention,
  • Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management.

Last updated in March 2014

  • SITEMAP
  • LEGAL NOTICE
  • USEFUL LINKS

Source URL: http://ensreg.eu/country-profile/Croatia