THORIUM AS AN ENERGY SOURCE - Opportunities for Norway ...

Summary:
Legislation that is or may be relevant for nuclear energy based on thorium
Activities related to Norwegian thorium-based nuclear energy will inter alia be regulated by the
following legislation: The Planning and Building Act with regulations, the Act concerning nuclear
energy activities with regulations, the Radiation Protection Act with regulations, The Energy Act
and the Pollution Control Act. In addition, mining and milling of thorium will have to be
considered under the Act relating to mining and the Industrial Licensing Act.
The needs for amendments or more detailed legislation in regard to nuclear energy based on
thorium
A conventional thorium-base nuclear installation will most probably be comprised by the current
licensing requirement laid down in the Act concerning nuclear energy activities, whereas a
thorium-based Accelerator-Driven System (ADS) will not. Consequently, the definitions of the Act
concerning nuclear energy activities will have to be amended in order to comprise any form of
thorium-based nuclear installation. If Norwegian nuclear power is established, the whole Act
concerning nuclear energy activities will have to be considered thoroughly and there will be a need
for more detailed regulations on inter alia nuclear security and internal control. Such regulations
might be based on international requirements and recommendations. The Radiation Protection Act
and/or regulations might also be subject to some amendments, for example in order to establish a
requirement that mining and milling of thorium is subject to authorization from the NRPA.
Export of thorium
Export of thorium is regulated by Regulations on Possession, Transfer and Transportation of
Nuclear Material and Dual-use Equipment. The main rule is that export of thorium requires an
authorization and in the case such authorization is given, the export is subject to notification to
NRPA and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Import of thorium
Import of thorium requires authorisation according to Regulations on Possession, Transfer and
Transportation of Nuclear Material and Dual-use Equipment, Section 3. The Radiation Protection
Act stipulates that import of thorium shall be justifiable and may on certain conditions prohibit
such import.
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