Rabat, February 26, 2025 – The Moroccan Agency for Nuclear and Radiological Safety and Security (AMSSNuR) hosted a working meeting on February 25 and 26, 2025, with officials from the National Institute for Radioelements (IRE-Lab) of Belgium. This meeting is part of Task 3 of Technical Cooperation Project No. 440-866, titled “Support to AMSSNuR for the Establishment of a Radiological Monitoring System for the Moroccan Territory.”
Co-financed by the European Commission (EC) and conducted in partnership with IRE-Lab, this cooperation project is structured around three key areas. Task 3 specifically aims to provide AMSSNuR with the necessary support to establish a national off-line radiological environmental monitoring program while strengthening accredited laboratories for environmental radioactivity measurement.
During the meeting, participants initiated discussions on implementing a radiological monitoring program for the Moroccan territory through sampling and laboratory analysis. In this context, high-risk areas—including mining sites, nuclear medicine centers, wastewater treatment plants, and seawater desalination stations—were identified and examined with IRE-Lab experts.
Based on the assessment carried out under Task 1 of the project, the currently available environmental radioactivity measurement resources in Morocco were reviewed. These findings will serve as the foundation for designing a periodic monitoring program aligned with international standards and best practices adopted in Belgium while considering Morocco’s national capabilities.
Furthermore, Task 3 of the project includes conducting audits of accredited radioactivity measurement laboratories, identifying areas for improvement, and organizing inter-comparison exercises. Training sessions tailored to the needs of laboratories, particularly on ISO 17025 standards, are also planned.
This working meeting marks the second activity under Task 3, following the launch meeting held on September 11 and 12, 2024, which brought together representatives from the National Center for Energy, Nuclear Science, and Technology (CNESTEN) and the National Center for Radiation Protection (CNRP). The first meeting allowed laboratories from both institutions to present their fields of expertise and their needs in environmental monitoring.
Ultimately, Task 3 of this technical cooperation project represents a strategic opportunity to strengthen collaboration between AMSSNuR and accredited environmental radioactivity measurement laboratories. By leveraging IRE-Lab’s expertise, this initiative directly contributes to protecting the public and the environment from the risks associated with ionizing radiation.