Geographical scope
African countries, which belong to the EU CBRN Centre of Excellence (CoE) region of Eastern and Central Africa (ECA): Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, The Seychelles, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Namibia.
Context
The countries of the ECA region face radiological and nuclear risks arising from uranium mining, milling, processing and transportation as well as from the state of management of radioactive sources. Past experiences (e.g. in Central Asia) show that sustainable uranium mining requires the application of best international practices and standards to avoid negative environmental impact and expensive remediation. Exporting uranium ore concentrate through several countries requires also harmonized legal frameworks and their synchronized implementation at border crossings to prevent illicit trafficking of radioactive materials. Project 60 seeks synergies with a parallel EU-funded project under the Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation (INSC) – MC 5.01/15B “Support for Southern African Countries in Nuclear Safety and Safeguards”.