Morocco strengthens its role in nuclear safety and African capacity building

08:05

By: Azzat Manal

Morocco strengthens its role in nuclear safety and African capacity building

Morocco is stepping up its contribution to nuclear and radiological safety while supporting the development of regulatory expertise across Africa, according to remarks by the Kingdom’s Permanent Representative to the international organizations in Vienna, Ambassador Azzeddine Farhane.

Speaking during a meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors in Vienna, Farhane highlighted Morocco’s efforts to help African countries strengthen their regulatory frameworks for radioactive waste management and the safe decommissioning of nuclear and radiological facilities.

The ambassador referred to the IAEA Director General’s report on nuclear and radiation safety, which covers developments between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026. He pointed in particular to a regional training school organized in Morocco in May 2026 by the IAEA and Morocco’s national nuclear and radiological safety authority.

The initiative brought together representatives from several African countries and provided participants with practical guidance and technical expertise on developing national regulatory systems for radioactive waste and the safe decommissioning of facilities. Morocco presented the program as part of its broader commitment to sharing technical experience with African partners through South-South cooperation.

Farhane also reaffirmed Morocco’s support for strengthening the international nuclear safety framework and stressed that responsibility for nuclear safety ultimately rests with individual states in accordance with their national obligations and international commitments. He said Morocco continues to develop and reinforce its legal and regulatory framework in this field.

The IAEA’s latest assessment activities also highlighted Morocco’s adherence to international nuclear safety standards. The ambassador referred to an Integrated Safety Assessment for Research Reactors mission carried out in Morocco in November at the request of the national authorities.

The mission forms part of the long-standing cooperation between Morocco and the IAEA. It also comes in the context of the designation, in 2023, of Morocco’s National Center for Nuclear Energy, Sciences and Technology as the first international center in Africa based on a research reactor dedicated to education, training and practical capacity building.

According to Farhane, the assessment produced positive conclusions and recommendations, with the IAEA recognizing the technical expertise, transparency and openness demonstrated by the center’s management, technical teams and reactor operators. Their continued commitment to maintaining high safety standards was also highlighted.

Morocco further welcomed the IAEA’s ongoing work to strengthen nuclear and radiation safety, transport and radioactive waste management, as well as emergency preparedness and response capabilities.

During a separate Board of Governors session devoted to the IAEA’s 2025-2026 performance report, Farhane emphasized the importance of closer coordination among international and regional partners. He argued that stronger cooperation is essential to maximizing the overall impact of the agency’s work and addressing nuclear safety challenges through shared expertise and coordinated action.

Morocco’s growing involvement in these initiatives reflects its broader efforts to position itself as a regional hub for nuclear safety expertise and technical training, particularly by making its experience and institutional capabilities available to other African countries.