Department of Safety Analyses, Assessment and Research and Development

The Department of Safety Analyses, Assessment and Research and Development assists the Chairman in the implementation of his/her regulatory and control functions with regard to the assessment of the submitted by the applicant, respectively the holder of a licence or a permit documentation for issuing of permits and licences for carrying out activities in nuclear facilities.

The department carries out the following activities:

1. assesses the design basis and functioning of structures, systems and equipment related to nuclear safety and their compliance with the established requirements;
2. proposes the performance of the following activities: independent expertise of structures, systems and equipment related to nuclear safety; analyses and assessment of transients and emergency modes in nuclear power plants; reliability, thermohydraulic and probabilistic analysis of safety; strength calculations of pipelines and equipment; designs and projects for construction of nuclear facilities and their decommissioning; computer codes and models related to nuclear safety;
3. participates in the preparation of the national reports on the implementation of the obligations ensuing from the Convention on Nuclear Safety and the Joint Convention on Safety in Management of Spent Fuel and in Safety in Management of Radioactive Waste, as well as in the preparation of the reports on the bilateral agreements in the field of safe use of nuclear energy;
4. participates in the analyzing of incidents, events, failures of structures, systems and equipment related to nuclear safety and radiation protection, as well as of operational data and indicators;
5. participates in the preparation of data for the IAEA information systems with regard to the operation of nuclear facilities and the emergency events related to them;
6. participates in the emergency team of the Chairman of the Agency for action in case of emergencies;
7. develops drafts for internal rules and other acts in the field of the activities carried out by the department;
8. organizes the activity on assigning and acceptance of expertise, research and development related to nuclear safety and radiation protection on the use of nuclear energy and ionising radiation and in the management of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel, financed by the Agency budget;
9. participates in the current work related to the preparation and implementation of programmes and projects for assistance to the Agency financed through international co-operation;
10. prepares documents, summarizes information, carries out analyses and prepares expert assessments related to the management of the Decommissioning of Nuclear Facilities Fund.
11. takes part in the carrying out of inspections in nuclear facilities for control over the compliance with the requirements for safe use of nuclear energy and over the conditions of the issued licenses and permissions;
12. takes part in the preparation of analysis, statements, reports, information and reviews as well as in the development of the official position of the Agency on matters pertaining to the competencies of the department, ensuing from the membership of the Republic of Bulgaria in the European Union.