Mining & Trade News

The Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (AERA) has reported progress in ensuring that companies handling radiation sources, nuclear material and other radioactive substances comply with licensing and worker monitoring regulations.

In an interview, Acting Executive Director Chimwemwe Gamulani said there are encouraging signs that players are beginning to take compliance seriously.

“There are 46 facilities which have enrolled their radiation occupationally exposed workers in the individual radiation monitoring program, representing 72 percent of the target for the 2025/2026 financial year. AERA is currently monitoring 333 occupationally exposed workers, which accounts for 61 percent of the annual target,” said Gamulani.

He said that in terms of authorization, 65 facilities have so far been licensed, representing 62 percent of the target for this financial year. This licensing process is critical because, according to the law, no person or institution is permitted to engage in activities involving radiation sources without a licence granted by AERA.

Gamulani explained that to ensure compliance, AERA conducts regulatory inspections each financial year. These inspections have revealed that, initially, many facilities were failing to meet legal requirements, but the situation has started to improve.

“The key finding has been that most facilities were not complying with the Act. However, due to the inspections and awareness raising conducted by AERA, there is an improvement in compliance by the facilities,” he said.

Gamulani explained that where facilities fail to comply, AERA applies what it describes as a “graded approach” to enforcement. This ranges from encouragement and technical support for compliance to court action or even criminal prosecution, depending on the level of risk posed.

“The Authority has already issued stop orders and corrective measures to some facilities that were found to be non-compliant,” he said.

Despite these enforcement efforts, Gamulani cited lack of awareness among facility managers, resistance to comply with license conditions, weak safety cultures, and limited financial resources to conduct inspections as the main challenges.

However, he stressed that the Authority has responded by “intensifying stakeholder engagement through workshops, inspections, and publication of notices, while it is working to increase its revenue base and prioritise its activities to ensure efficiency”.

Despite the obstacles, Gamulani said that AERA has already observed tangible improvements in radiation safety practices explaining that  more workers are being registered for individual monitoring, and the number of facilities applying for licences is growing.

AERA also operates the National Dosimetry Laboratory, which plays a crucial role in protecting occupationally exposed workers by tracking their radiation exposure and ensuring it does not exceed recommended safety limits.

The Authority, established under the Atomic Energy Act of 2011, is mandated to regulate the importation, use, storage, and disposal of radiation sources in Malawi in order to protect both people and the environment from the harmful effects of ionising radiation.

There are a number of mining and mineral prospecting projects in Malawi hosting deposits of radioactive minerals including Kayelekera in Karonga, Kanyika in Mzimba and Kangankunde in Balaka.  

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