ENSI is responsible for the supervision of Swiss nuclear facilities, i.e. the nuclear power stations, the interim storage facility for radioactive waste, the nuclear research facilities at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) in Villigen and the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale in Lausanne. Its regulatory remit covers the entire life of a facility, i.e. from initial planning, through operation to final decommissioning including the disposal of radioactive waste.
Its remit also includes the safety of staff and the public and their protection from radiation, sabotage and terrorism.
ENSI is also involved in the transport of radioactive materials to and from nuclear facilities and in the continuing geoscientific investigations to identify a suitable location for the deep geological disposal of radioactive waste.
ENSI supports research into nuclear safety and is represented on more than 70 international commissions and specialist groups working in the field of nuclear safety. It makes, therefore an active contribution to new international safety guidelines. Through its network of contacts, ENSI is in touch with current developments in science and technology and discharges its regulatory remit on the basis of global experience in nuclear energy.
Swiss nuclear safety oversight complies with the internationally applicable standards of the IAEA regulatory framework. This is the outcome of the IRRS mission of the International Atomic Energy Agency that concluded on Friday.
The Swiss Federal Council confirms six incumbent members of the ENSI Board for the coming legislative period.
The conclusion of the experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) upon completion of the two-week review mission is that Switzerland has a robust nuclear security system. During the mission of the International Physical Protection Advisory Service IPPAS, from 30 October to 10 November 2023, the international team carried out a detailed examination of the national foundations and measures for the protection of nuclear installations, nuclear material and radioactive material against unauthorised intervention.
Swiss nuclear installations comply with WENRA’s fire protection requirements. This is the conclusion that ENSI has reached within the framework of the Topical Peer Review 2023.
Switzerland is to be reviewed by experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) between 30 October and 10 November 2023, when the focus will be on national requirements and measures to protect nuclear installations and nuclear material, including radioactive material, from unauthorised actions.
ENSI will be participating in the Ninth Review Meeting of the Convention on Nuclear Safety of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, scheduled to take place from 20 to 31 March. This year’s conference will be evaluating Switzerland’s Eighth and Ninth National Reports.
ENSI is attending a four-day conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA – the International Conference on Effective Nuclear and Radiation Regulatory Systems – which is taking place in Abu Dhabi from 13 to 16 February 2023.
The events in Japan are a reminder that we must never let down our guard. It is essential to ensure the safety of Swiss nuclear power plants right up until their final days of operation. Moreover, the accident in Japan shone a light on another important aspect: emergency preparedness.
Against the background of the lessons learnt from the major nuclear accident in Fukushima, the ENSI Board will continue to carry out its duties both vigilantly and independently, while ensuring the clear separation of ENSI’s regulatory safety function on the one hand from economic and political interests on the other.
150 employees of the Swiss Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate ENSI work every day in various fields for the nuclear safety of the Swiss population.
