By Ron Chen, Bureau Chief, Asia
An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of experts has observed that the Philippines has made progress in implementing recommendations aimed at strengthening the safe operation of its research reactor facility. The team found improvements in the reactor’s operational organization structure and recommended that personnel safety training is further strengthened.
The Integrated Safety Assessment of Research Reactors (INSARR) follow-up mission was held at the Philippines’ Research Reactor-1 (PRR-1) Subcritical Assembly for Training, Education and Research (SATER) facility located in Quezon City, 10 km northeast of Manila, from 10 to 12 August 2026. It was conducted at the request of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) to review progress in implementing the recommendations from the INSARR mission carried out in 2023.
PRR-1 SATER is primarily used for training and education to support the national nuclear engineering programme, and for conducting research into nuclear applications that can support the development of healthcare, agriculture and industry.
The mission team consisted of two experts from Romania, and the United States of America, as well as one IAEA official. The team visited the facility, examined documentation, and held discussions with facility management, operating personnel and technical staff.
The team reviewed areas including management, training, operations, safety analysis, decommissioning and other related areas.
The mission team noted improvements in organizational effectiveness such as the clarification of roles, functions and responsibilities of the key PRR-1 SATER operating personnel. The team also noted progress in the development of safety documentation, including completion of the commissioning report with complementary investigations on alternative fuel loading schemes.
“The mission found an encouraging level of implementation of the recommendations to strengthen safety in accordance with IAEA safety standards,” said Head of the IAEA Research Reactor Safety Section and mission team leader Kaichao Sun. “Progress has been made across organizational arrangements and safety documentation, while further efforts are needed related to the PRR-1 SATER operating programmes.”
Areas for further improvement included the functions and effectiveness of the safety committee as well as the maintenance procedures of safety related systems and components.
“The 2026 follow-up INSARR mission gave us an opportunity to objectively assess our progress, learn from international experience, and further strengthen PRR-1 SATER as a safe and sustainable platform for advancing nuclear science and technology in the Philippines,” said Chief of the Nuclear Services Division at PNRI Ryan U. Olivares.
The mission team made one new recommendation to ensure that the operating personnel are given adequate retraining necessary for the safe operation of PRR-1 SATER.
