Spanish delegation had a brief meeting with General Director of International Atomic Energy Agency

Commissioner Pilar Lucio participates in two international forums to promote gender equality in nuclear sector
 

The President of the Spanish Nuclear Safety Council (CSN), Juan Carlos Lentijo, chaired the meeting of the IAEA Senior Regulators group held as part of the 68th  General Conference. How regulatory frameworks adapt to new technologies and the challenges these present were two of the key conclusions of the meeting. During the event, Lentijo emphasised that nuclear regulators “must be prepared” to face challenges and seize the opportunities presented by technological advances, “always prioritising the safety and protection of the public and the environment.”

The head of the CSN outlined some of the challenges faced by the regulator, such as the ten proton therapy units that will be licensed soon and will become part of Spain’s national health system He also talked about the IFMIF-DONES fusion project, whose scientific committee includes the CSN, responsible for establishing nuclear safety and radiological protection measures at the facility before it becomes operational. Lentijo also addressed that regulators must adapt their infrastructure to keep pace with technological advances and tackle the challenges they present. “This involves enhancing the flexibility and efficiency of organisations, leveraging improvements derived from innovation, and reallocating resources where necessary”, he highlighted.

Following the panel discussion, participants commented that international collaboration is essential for sharing experiences and knowledge on regulating new technologies and the challenges they bring. They also emphasised that regulators should fully use international fora and bilateral relations.

The CSN President, along with Commissioner Elvira Romera, had the opportunity to meet with the IAEA General Director, Rafael Grossi. During the meeting, they briefly discussed that Spain will host follow-up peer reviews for the IRRS and ARTEMIS missions in 2025. For its part, the CSN has contributed with its experts to several missions where they have been invited, such as those to the Netherlands, South Korea, Switzerland, and Japan. Lentijo reaffirmed the Spanish regulator's commitment to the Agency and willingness to continue collaborating on projects that enhance nuclear safety and radiological protection.

Commitment to equality

The Spanish regulatory body has also been active in two important international fora, reaffirming its commitment to nuclear safety and promoting gender equality in the sector. Commissioner Pilar Lucio attended these events, which included the participation of other regulatory bodies from around the world.

Last Wednesday, the ninth meeting of the Nuclear Regulators Group for Gender Equity (NRGE) was held at the IAEA headquarters. The event, chaired by the co-president of this group, Annemiek van Bolhuis from the Dutch regulator (ANVS), included several presentations and discussions on mentoring programmes.

Commissioner Lucio actively participated in the debate, highlighting the importance of having mentoring programmes that allow women in the sector to receive the necessary support to overcome barriers related to integrating women into workplaces historically dominated by men. During the meeting, progress in the implementation of equality policies was also discussed, and good practices were shared among different countries.

The Nuclear Regulators for Gender Equity (NRGE) group is the successor to the Impact Group on Gender Equality in Nuclear Regulatory Agencies (IGC) and has been created as an international initiative to address gender equity in the nuclear sector. This group is crucial in establishing networks to continue promoting gender equity within the nuclear sector.

In addition, Commissioner Lucio also participated in the second meeting of the High-Level Group on Enhancing Gender Balance in the Nuclear Sector (HLG-GB) of the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA), held at the OECD headquarters in Paris. This group addresses gender inequality in the nuclear workforce, focusing on attracting, retaining, and promoting women in all roles, as well as offering tools and guidance to help NEA member countries increase female participation in the sector.