RSRP Conducts Meeting in Paraguay

March 26th, 2019 — 

On March 26, 2019, representatives of the U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Radiation Sources Regulatory Partnership (RSRP) met with Eng. Mario Gutierrez Simon, the new Minister of the Radiological and Nuclear Regulatory Authority of Paraguay (ARRN). Brett Rini from the NRC Office of International Programs, and Sergey Katsenelenbogen and Paulo Ferruz from Advanced Systems Technology and Management Inc., represented the RSRP team that participated in the meeting. The meeting participants discussed the new organizational structure of ARRN, the purpose and benefits of the RSRP, and the status of ongoing and future bilateral activities. Minister Gutierrez highlighted the importance of completing the inventory of generators equipment and radiation sources to enhance regulatory oversight. The ARRN representatives mentioned the need to continue having the support of the NRC to improve regulatory control within the country, and to further build ARRN’s capabilities in the areas of licensing and inspections, especially for new nuclear technologies. The ARRN representatives also highlighted the need for RSRP support to organize and implement a training course to certify radiation protection officers.