National Nuclear Center Discussed the Implementation of IAEA Technical Cooperation Projects

IAEA technical cooperation program (TC) is an effective instrument of international cooperation in peaceful use of nuclear energy. Cooperation between Kazakhstan and IAEA under TC provides our specialists with access to the state-of-the-art technologies, possibility to apply them in industry, enables to share, build and manage nuclear knowledge.

Since 2008, National Nuclear Center has been carrying out comprehensive survey of the former Semipalatinsk Test Site area in order to evaluate possibility of the lands’ transfer to economic turnover. Starting from 2010, International Atomic Energy Agency provides wide scientific and technical support to implementation of TC Project “Science and technology support to the former Semipalatinsk test site (STS) lands’ transfer to economic activity”. Taking into account immense area of the former test site, which is about 18.3 thousand sq.km, Kazakhstan scientists face the challenge of scientific data confirmation related to STS lands radioactive contamination evaluation, by IAEA representatives and international experts.

In the early decade of November this year National Nuclear Center was visited by Katherina Deufrains, representative of IAEA Technical Cooperation Division, who was appointed a program supervisor of European Department and Kazakhstan. Her visit was first of all aimed at providing assistance to our specialists by consultations of IAEA experts on project topics, national projects monitoring and coordination, and further equipment delivery.

According to the agreement achieved during the visit within November 19 – 23 this year, another IAEA expert - Joanne Brown holds a workshop for National Nuclear Center personnel on quality control of researches performed in the framework of TC project. In parallel with training, working meetings are planned to be arranged with implementers of national projects in order to discuss work results as well as further plans.