AERA Corefunctions

ADDRESS

ATOMIC ENERGY REGULATORY AUTHORITY (AERA)

2nd Floor, Chief M’mbelwa House,

Robert Mugabe Crescent, City Center

Private Bag 368

Lilongwe 3

Malawi

CONTACT DETAILS

Tel: +265 1 774 691

Tel: +265 1 774 694

Email: Info@aera.org.mw

Website: www.aera.org.mw

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An authorisation is the granting of written permission through a formal process by AERA for a person or institution to operate a facility or to conduct specified activities or practices involving radiation sources, radioactive or nuclear material. Section 23 of the Atomic Energy Act No. 16 of 2011 prohibits anyone from engaging in any activity or practice with radiation sources, radioactive or nuclear material unless specifically authorised by AERA.

1. Authorisations

Activities and Practices that require authorisation by AERA

Possession and use of radiation sources, radioactive or nuclear material including in industrial, medical, or research facilities
Import or export of radiation sources, radioactive or nuclear material
Transport of radiation sources, radioactive or nuclear material
Siting, construction, commissioning, operation of radiation facilities
Manufacturing and production of radiation sources, radioactive or nuclear material
Mining and milling of uranium or thorium radioactive minerals and rare earths
Activities related to radioactive waste management and disposal
Decommissioning of nuclear or radiation facilities including mines

2. Regulated Activities and Practices

The activities and practices that are regulated by AERA under the Atomic Energy Act include the importation, exportation, production, processing, handling, use, holding, storage, transportation and disposal of radiation sources, nuclear materials, and any other radioactive materials. The listed activities and practices require a prior notification and submission of a licence application to AERA as necessary for the issuing of an authorisation to perform such activities and practices.

The operation of facilities and engaging in the stated activities and practices must only be done once authorisation has been granted by AERA. The radiation sources, nuclear and radioactive materials including facilities that are regulated by AERA as found in the different sectors include: Read More About Regulated Activities and Practices

3. Individual Monitoring Services

The Individual Radiation Monitoring Service (IRMS) aims at monitoring potential ionizing radiation exposure to workers in fields such as medical, industrial and mining.

We are a government service also known as the National Dosimetry Laboratory (NDL) based in Lilongwe, which encourages clients to comply with the radiation safety requirements stipulated in the Atomic Energy Act of 2011 and its accompanying Regulations.

AERA started providing this dosimetry service in 2018 working with a range of customers all over the country.

4.Environmental Radiation Monitoring

Environmental radiation monitoring is performed to establish the natural background levels of radiation and to detect any long-term changes in environmental radiation levels. This is performed by monitoring three major radiation exposure pathways, namely the atmospheric, terrestrial and aquatic pathways. The monitoring is useful to estimate and assess the potential radiation dose to the human population and to recognize regions of elevated radiation levels.

The monitoring includes direct measurement of ambient radiation levels in the country, artificial radioactive material in the environmental samples, and in foodstuff commonly consumed by people. The levels of radioactivity detected in the measurements are then compared to safety standards to ensure a safe environment. Environmental radiation monitoring helps provide early warning and identification of possible radiation release incidents in the environment and to detect radiation contamination of foods.

Nuclear Safeguards are a set of technical measures applied by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on nuclear material and associated activities to ensure that they are not used for developing nuclear weapons. Malawi as a Member State of the IAEA completed a Safeguards Agreement and implements measures to verify that nuclear material and associated activities in the country are only used for peaceful purposes. AERA is responsible for organizing and coordinating the implementation of Malawi’s safeguards obligations. The responsibilities include:

a) Verifying the implementation of the obligations to prevent diversion of nuclear material through inspections and accounting of nuclear material;

b) Collecting information from relevant national institutions and providing to the IAEA including verification activities information;

c) Facilitating IAEA safeguards inspections within the country including provision of access to relevant facilities and activities; and

d) Coordinating with Ministry of Foreign Affairs with regard to submission of relevant Safeguards Agreement information.

5. Nuclear Safeguards

Diagram 1.1 specialised in providing radiation early warning

Picture 1.2 Demostrating how to safeguard nuclear

Apply for Authorisation

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