Sustaining nuclear security and physical protection of radiological facilities in Madagascar

Radioactive sources take an important role in medical, industrial and research applications in Madagascar but to ensure sustainability, benefits of these materials should be balanced with security. The Radiological Safety and Nuclear Security Directorate (DSRSN) of the National Institute for Nuclear Sciences and Technologies (INSTN), the national radiation protection and nuclear security authority, works with international partners to enhance the security of radioactive sources within the country. This first line of defense initiative helps to prevent any deliberate act directed against a nuclear facility, storage or transport, which could directly or indirectly endanger the safety of worker, the public or the environment by exposure to radiation or release of radioactive substances. Effort focuses on the security of high-activity radioactive sources including cesium-137, cobalt-60, americium-241, iridium-192 and radium-226. Madagascar develops and implements the physical protection regimes to promote sustainable security. This includes the establishment of jurisdiction, security planning and training, transportation security, response plans and strengthening of inspection and enforcement regimes.  In order to establish effective and sustainable nuclear security regime, Madagascar has participated to the Integrated Nuclear Security Sustainability Plan (INSSP). The Amendment to the Convention on Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM/A) and the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT) have been ratified and entered into force in 2017. The revision of the existing legal and regulatory framework by adding dispositions to nuclear security is in progress. The establishment of an interim secure centralized storage facility with proper physical protection elements for disused and orphan sources is expected. An International Physical Protection Advisory Service (IPPAS) mission was conducted in 2019 to review the status of the national security regime through comparison of it with the obligations specified under CPPNM and its 2005 Amendment, the Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources and its supplementary guidance, and all relevant IAEA Nuclear Security Series. A comprehensive inventory of radioactive sources is conducted and has proved to be a necessary condition for an effective regulatory control of radioactive sources in the country, which will enhance security. This paper presents the achievements and challenges in security of radioactive sources in Madagascar. Efforts have been made so far to implement the regulatory infrastructure that should protect radioactive sources, associated facilities from malicious acts, and should combat illicit trafficking.