Speaker
Description
Author: YIMELE Blaise Clovis
Affiliation: Radiological Safety and Nuclear Security Authority (ASRAN), Cameroon
Corresponding author: yiblaiclo@yahoo.fr
In Cameroon, radioactive materials in categories 1 to 5 are used in medical, industrial and research settings. The transport of radioactive materials is a reality there, and several stakeholders are involved, such as the Radiological Safety and Nuclear Safety Authority, which is the Regulatory Body; the Ministry of Transport, The Customs, the Police and Gendarmerie, the Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority (CCAA), The National Port Authority (APN). The transport of radioactive materials in Cameroon is currently regulated by a number of legislative and regulations such as Law n° 2019-012 of 19 July 2019 on the general framework for radiological and nuclear safety, nuclear security, civil liability and the application of safeguards, several decrees such as Decree n° 2024/00163/PM of 22 January 2024 laying down the procedures for implementing certain provisions of Law n° 2019/012 of 19 July 2019; Decree n° 2024/599 of 19 November 2024 on the change of name and reorganization of the National Radiation Protection Agency (ANRP), which creates the new Regulatory Body and strengthens its powers, decrees of the Ministry of Transport on dangerous goods. The Guide of Authorization for the Transport of Radioactive Materials was developed through collaboration between the Regulatory Authority radioactive’s transport institutions. It should also be noted that Cameroon has been a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) since 1964 and has signed and ratified certain international treaties and conventions relating to nuclear safety and security.
From 2010 to date, the Regulator Authority, now known as the Radiological Safety and Nuclear Security Authority (ASRAN), has given approvals to six (06) companies to transport of radioactive materials in Cameroon. Approvals are issued when the applicant meets the followings requirements: possessing authorization from the Ministry of Transport for dangerous goods, technical and organizational capabilities, and trained personnel in radiation protection and in emergency response and demonstrate ability to comply with all regulatory requirements relating to the transport of radioactive materials. A transport authorization is issued for each shipment. A study conducted between September 2022 and September 2025 counted twenty-nine (29) authorizations for the transport issued by ASRAN. This article will present information on the laws and regulations relating to the safe and secure transport of radioactive materials, authorization procedures, roles and responsibilities in transport, and roles and responsibilities in case of an accident or security event during the transport of radioactive materials and the flow of radioactive material transport between 2020 and 2024.
Conclusions will be presented on the compliance of Cameroon's current regulatory framework for the transport of radioactive materials with the Recommendations on the Transport of Radioactive Materials published by the IAEA (NSS14 and NSS9) and the perspectives with the draft regulatory text on the transport of radioactive materials developed with the support of the IAEA.
