Mumbai (PTI): India will host an International conference on topical issues in nuclear installation safety in November this year, a top official of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) said on Friday.

The five-day conference is to deliberate on ensuring safety for sustainable nuclear power development, Chairman of AERB S K Sharma said.

The conference, sponsored by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) coincides with Homi Bhabha centenary year and Silver Jubilee of AERB, Sharma told PTI.

The President of the conference is Andre-Claude Lacoste, Chairman of the Nuclear Safety Authority in France and the conference will be held from November 17 to 21 in Mumbai, he said.

The participants will include nuclear vendors, operators and other related industries from India and abroad. An exhibition and panel discussion are also being arranged, Sharma said.

Sharma, who is also a member of International Nuclear Safety Group (INSAG) said they will bring out a special document on safety before the conference.

Earlier this week, IAEA held a workshop for those countries eyeing nuclear power generation for the first time. Representatives from 45 countries - nuclear power vendors, regulators, operators and the "newcomers" to the world of nuclear power - reviewed their roles and responsibilities.

The main message of the workshop to lay the foundation for long-term nuclear safety first. Chair of the IAEA workshop, Lacoste, said, "The focus was on good practices and lessons learned about the roles and responsibilities of nuclear power vendor countries and newcomers for long-term safety.

"Many elements are needed to build up and maintain a good infrastructure for nuclear safety, and the workshop helped put the spotlight on them," he said adding such elements, he noted, include establishing a nuclear legal framework; nuclear regulations and an independent regulatory body to enforce them; corps of skilled technical expertise; and a system that enables public participation.

The workshop - entitled 'Roles and Responsibilities of Vendor Countries and Countries Embarking on Nuclear Power Programmes to Ensure Long-Term Safety' - was organised by the IAEA Division of Nuclear Installation Safety, an IAEA release said.

The workshop attracted more than 100 participants from 45 countries, especially "nuclear newcomers" - namely representatives from countries looking to launch nuclear power programmes.

The "New comers" learnt that laying the foundation for a safe and sound nuclear project takes expertise and time - up to 15 years - before the plant starts to produce electricity. That factor should be taken into account when framing national strategies for launching nuclear power.

Sessions emphasized that nuclear safety is a national responsibility and that systematic use of tailored IAEA services - notably reviews of the governmental and nuclear regulatory regime and of plant designs, construction and operation - should help countries significantly, the IAEA said.