Bogotá — A group of Colombian congress members and academics is seeking to promote the development of nuclear energy in the country, as well as in key areas such as health, he environment and food safety, with a bill to be submitted during the next legislature.
The main focus of the bill is to guarantee nuclear safety, protecting workers, citizens and the environment, assuming state responsibility for the peaceful uses of ionizing radiation.
As Bloomberg Línea reported in November, the country is taking steps to explore and take advantage of the different uses of nuclear energy in these fields.
Last February, the ruling coalition’s legislative bench learned about the activities being carried out at the Colombian Geological Service (SGC) with a nuclear reactor, visiting the facilities’ gamma plant, the nuclear waste area, the carbon 14 laboratory, and the environmental and hydrological applications laboratory.
“This is a country project, more than a bank project, we need to be at the forefront of the world to be competitive at a commercial, phytosanitary, industrial and medical level. We consider that there is a positive environment to move it forward, and we will seek support through the different benches and commissions”, congress member and promoter of the initiative, María del Mar Pizarro, told Bloomberg Línea.
She said the bill focuses on the responsibility of the state regarding nuclear safety, and the organization of state-run bodies regarding the regulation of the end uses of ionizing radiation.
The bill would be based on four axes, radiological (technological) protection, physical safety, safeguards and civil liability.
She explained that the bill aims to establish a clear and effective regulatory framework for the safe management of radioactive materials, as well as for the protection of public health and the environment.
The bill will contribute to the country’s economy, generating jobs and increasing competitiveness in the international market. This law will be articulated with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and will have the updates and international agreements that govern it.
María del Mar Pizarro, Colombian Congress member
To achieve this, it is proposed that an independent and qualified regulatory body be created, that safety and radiation protection standards be defined, and that international cooperation and the adoption of global standards be promoted.
According to the initial recommendations made in the draft project, such a body should have sufficient independence or functional separation from entities whose interests or responsibilities could unduly influence the regulatory decision-making process.
It should also have a high level of technical competence and sufficient financial and human resources to perform its functions, such as conducting inspections, other than those of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
“The support of various political parties has been sought, with a visit to the nuclear reactor planned for July, and we have raised awareness and disseminated information on the importance of nuclear technologies and the setbacks in the matter that we have compared to Latin America”, said the congresswoman.
With institutional support and the appropriate conditions established by this law, it is also intended that the entities dedicated to the research and development of nuclear applications in Colombia have a favorable framework within which to carry out their work.
The next steps for the nuclear law bill
Regarding the bill’s schedule, Pizarro commented that a participatory process has been carried out that included three technical roundtables with entities, academics, scientists and business leaders in a bid to hear concerns and discuss relevant issues related to nuclear safety and radiological protection.
In addition, coordination has been established with the IAEA through the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Mines and Energy.
In the next step of the process, a technical round table will be held this week to present the results of the work carried out so far, with new participants to be incorporated to work together in the achievement of the project.
It is also planned to coordinate with the IAEA the next steps for the accompaniment in the design of the bill, which will include visits to the nuclear reactor and the National Cancer Institute by Congress members so that they can become familiar with the importance of this sector, which contributes 0.25% to Colombia’s GDP, according to figures cited by Pizarro.
In July, a public hearing will be held and a draft of the law will be ready for public consultation.
Lawmakers also plan to organize the Regional International Symposium on Nuclear Applications, in collaboration with the international organization, in order to highlight the importance of these applications in various fields, from defense (for humanitarian anti-personnel-mine removal) to food preservation through ionizing radiation.
Bloomberg Línea has learned that a meeting has already been held with the Nuclear Affairs Group of the Ministry of Mines and Energy, the Directorate of Nuclear Affairs of the Ministry of Mines and Energy, and the Directorate of Nuclear Energy and Energy.
Talks have already got underway with various political parties to seek support for the bill.
One of the fundamental aspects of the project is the role that both the state and private enterprise will play, according to the lawmaker, and which will define clear rules established by a single regulator to ensure their responsibility for safety and the proper use of nuclear technologies.
In addition, a comprehensive strategy is proposed that includes incentives for private investment and research, the promotion of cooperation between public and private institutions, and the adoption of clear and effective policies and regulations.
“We also have to work with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ratify international treaties to comply with the regulations required by the international organization. It is a long-term task to move the law forward, but all our efforts are aimed at presenting this project in the next legislature,” said María del Mar Pizarro.
Why is a nuclear law important for Colombia?
The promoters of the bill emphasize that a nuclear law is key for the country in terms of foreign trade, since some countries require gamma irradiation to decontaminate food, for the import of raw materials, pharmaceuticals, medicinal herbs and cosmetics.
They also say that to access several markets in the world they require irradiation of fruits and vegetables to control the spread of pests, such as fruit flies, especially for countries with hot and humid climates such as Colombia, where these pests are prevalent.
Pizarro pointed out that, in the agriculture sector, these solutions “would facilitate foreign trade thanks to gamma irradiation of food, not only to prolong its preservation, but also to comply with the phytosanitary provisions required by importing countries. And in times of climate crisis, to achieve seed conservation”.
In a tweet, the lawmaker drew attention to the fact that nuclear energy can be a source of clean energy for the country.