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.
Werner Bühlmann is due to stand down from the ENSI Board at the end of 2018. The 72 year-old cites his advancing years as the reason for his decision. While regretting his departure, the ENSI Board offer its sincere thanks for his contributions over the years.
The Federal Council has appointed Monica Duca Widmer as the new Vice Chair of the ENSI Board. She succeeds Jürg Schmid, who is retiring at the end of 2017 after six years as Vice Chair of the strategic supervisory body. Jürg Schmid became a member of the ENSI Board in 2008.
The Swiss Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate (ENSI) publishes its organisational regulations, setting out details of ENSI’s duties, responsibilities, organisation and management structure.
In the new position paper, ‘Supervision of Deep Geological Repositories’, the Board and Executive Board of the Swiss Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate (ENSI) express their opinions on, amongst other things, the division of roles between ENSI and those subject to the supervision.
From 01 April 2017, the ENSI Board will once again comprise seven members. The Federal Council appointed Martin A. Zimmermann as the successor to Karine Rausis. The 65-year old has more than 30 years experience in the nuclear reactor research field.
The ENSI Board mourns Karine Rausis. She passed away at the beginning of January 2016. Karine Rausis had been a member of the independent supervisory body of the nuclear supervisory authority ENSI since the beginning of 2014.
