ISTC Attends as Observer the 30th Steering Committee Meeting of the International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles (INPRO), a division of the IAEA Department of Nuclear Energy

Tuesday October 26th, 2021

From 18 through 21 October 2021 the 30th Steering Committee Meeting (SCM) of INPRO took place online. The Committee is the governing body that provides guidance to INPRO members on their long-term planning and collaboration on innovations in reactors, fuel cycles and institutional approaches that promote the sustainable development of nuclear energy. INPRO's membership currently consists of 43 Members – 42 IAEA Member States and the European Commission (EC). Several other countries and international organizations participate as observers in INPRO meetings. This year such observers to the SMC for the first time were ISTC and Uzbekistan. The invitation to ISTC was a sign of growing recognition of the Center’s contribution to nuclear safety in Central Asia, and in Africa. Earlier, in April 2021, ISTC also acquired observer status in another IAEA entity, the Network of Nuclear Security Supports Centers. The agenda of the Steering Committee covered INPRO’s main task areas: global scenarios, innovations, sustainability assessment and strategies, and dialogue and outreach. Using scientific-technical analysis tools, INPRO develops successfully global and regional nuclear energy scenarios to facilitate the transition to sustainable nuclear energy systems. INPRO also supports collaborative projects on innovative reactor concepts, such as the Small Modular Reactors. It encourages…
ISTC congratulates AFCONE on the convening of the 5th Conference of State Parties to the Pelindaba Treaty

Tuesday October 26th, 2021

“ISTC is proud to have the partnership of the African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE) in its activities in Africa, based on the bilateral Memorandum of Cooperation” read the statement of ISTC Executive Director David Cleave to the participants of the 5th Conference of State Parties (CSP) the African Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Treaty, that held its opening session on 21 October 2021, at the Pan African Parliament Premises in Midrand, South Africa, close to the highly symbolic site of Pelindaba. He also commended AFCONE for playing a key role in advancing the safe and secure peaceful uses of the nuclear energy and other nuclear applications in Africa and in contributing to the international disarmament and nonproliferation. Several High-Level Officials delivered welcoming remarks: the AFCONE Chairperson; the Chair of the 4th CSP; the representative of the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the host country - South Africa; the African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security; the United Nations High Representative for Disarmament Affairs; the Director General of the IAEA; the Chairperson of the UN 1540 Committee; the Executive Secretary of the CTBTO; the Executive Director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons and the Chairpersons…
ISTC and the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) launch an Essay Competition for young African experts

Tuesday October 26th, 2021

Kenya is soon to become the first African country to join ISTS. To celebrate this occasion ISTC and KEBS launched on 22 October 2021 an Essay Competition for young African experts and practitioners on the topic: ‘How international cooperation can boost research and development in my area of expertise?’ The results of the contest are to be announced during the upcoming Regional Metrology Conference, scheduled to take place from 6th through 10th December 2021, in Mombasa, Kenya. At the online launching event ISTC Executive Director David Cleave expressed satisfaction from the state and the prospects of ISTC activities in Kenya and in East Africa. ISTC has worked to help strengthen the capacity of Kenyan authorities for secure and safe peaceful use of nuclear energy and applications. One example in this regard is the EU-funded ISTC-managed Project – 60 Support to the EU CBRN Center of Excellence in East and Central Africa in Nuclear Safety. ISTC has the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI) as its institutional Partner, while KEBS ponders to seek the same status. Equally important are professional organizations that ISTC has as partners in Kenya, such as the Kenyan Young Generation in Nuclear (KYGN) or the…
ISTC Completes an Online Course on Radioactive Material Transport Safety for Participants from 17 African States

Friday September 24th, 2021

From 6 through 16 September ISTC held in conjunction with the AFCONE and FNRBA a two-week Training Course on the Implementation of the International Atomic Energy Agency Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material. The Course constituted a major activity in the framework of the EU Project MC 5.01 15B Support to the Southern African States in Nuclear Safety and Safeguards. The objectives of the course were successfully achieved - to enrich the knowledge and understanding of the participants on the implementation of the IAEA Transport Regulations, and to provide guidance on the carrying out of transport-related inspections.   The positive results were the result of the work of the lecturers who conducted the course and who are leading experts in this field, namely: Paul Hinrichsen, expert at the RSA National Nuclear Regulator, Coordinator, FNRBA Thematic Working Group Five: Upgrading Safety in the Transport of Radioactive Material; Christel Fasten, a former official of the German Federal Radiation Protection Office; and, Zineb El Faicali, Head of Division Regulation and Authorization at the Moroccan Agency for Nuclear and Radiological Safety and Security, FNRBA Thematic Working Group Leader. The 34 participants in the online course came from 17 African countries, SADC and…
ISTC Supports the Third African Youth Nuclear Summit

Wednesday September 15th, 2021

In line with its outreach strategy in Africa, ISTC is proud of its partnership with the African Young Generation in Nuclear (AYGN), the diverse non-profit organization that is committed to ensuring the youth engagement and support within the nuclear industry, and able to capitalize on numerous professional opportunities for careers, networking and development. AYGN has proven itself as a reliable partner to ISTC in the implementation of the EU funded Projects MC 5.01 15B Support to the Southern African States in Nuclear Safety and Safeguards (www.sadcprojec.istc.int) and P-60 Support to the EU CBRN CoE in East and Central Africa in Nuclear Security (www.coe-project60.istc.int) and in the dissemination of the projects’ interim results. ISTC supported many AYGN activities, including the upcoming the 3rd African Youth Nuclear Summit (AYNS) in Accra, Ghana on 25–29 October 2021, dubbed, “The impact of nuclear science and technology applications on economic recovery in Africa post COVID-19 pandemic”. The motto for this summit is “Defining Africa’s Agenda 2063”. AYNS2021 will bring together young people and professionals across the continent, from the academia; nuclear research institutions, nuclear service providers, prospective and current operators as well as regulators to share, exchange ideas and network on issues related to nuclear…
SADC Project helps Zambia’s nuclear regulator engage stakeholders in radiation safety

Friday July 16th, 2021

On 23 and 24 June 2021 the Radiation Protection Authority (RPA) of Zambia organized workshops with  relevant national stakeholders to register their opinion on draft normative documents design to improve the governance of the nuclear sector and in particular to increase the level of safety during transportation of UOC and radioactive materials The subject matter on the discussion was the national country specific report on the state of affairs, elaborated by RPA experts under the EU Project MC 5.01 15B Support to Southern African Stated in Nuclear Safety and Safeguards. Through this EU funded project, the ISTC supports capacity building activities for safe uranium mining and transport, and facilitates the exchanges with and within sub-Saharan Africa. ISTC assists the 16 member states of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to increase their levels of nuclear safety and security. Authors of the eight country-specific reports on uranium transport matters presented their findings at a series of ISTC monthly webinars. On 21 April 2021 during the third webinar. Ms Melody Mwewa, Manager, Nuclear and Radiation Safety Department, RPA, presented the Country Specific Report- the Legal Framework for Zambia in relation to Nuclear Safety, Security and Safeguards and transportation of Uranium Ore Concentrates.…
Project 60 Appreciated by African Partners at the 9th Steering Committee Meeting

Wednesday July 14th, 2021

On 9 July 2021, the Project 60 Steering Committee held online its ninth meeting. Both the external circumstances of pandemic restrictions and the internal dynamics of Project 60, entering decisive phase of implementation, motivated the Project’s governing body to take stock of the accomplishments and to refocus and rearrange the roadmap for the next year and a half. The deliberations covered a broad agenda, ranging from an upcoming regulatory review workshop and arrangements for information sharing on mobile radioactive sources, through training exercises for nuclear security inspectors and trainings for regulators, operators, customs and border guards, to courses on safe uranium transportation and Project 60 presentation at side events of international conferences. The overall observation about the Project’s implementation was that the main specific objectives are successfully pursued and in many aspects already achieved for the first phase of the project. The second stage implies enhanced regional cooperation to prevent illicit trafficking of radioactive materials through border monitoring, and the creation and training of mobile teams for coordinated inspections. Safe and secure transportation of nuclear and other radioactive materials is a regional concern for Eastern and Central Africa and not a one-country issue. In his remarks Joseph Maina, Head of…
ISTC-led Projects P-60 and MC 5.01 15 B Presented at the AFCONE event Nuclear Security Systems in Africa

Friday June 25th, 2021

On 24 June 2021 the African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE) convened an online conference entitled Nuclear Security Systems in Africa: From Culture to NSSCs Development and Managing Response to Events. It was dedicated to the programs of the European Union implemented through the EU Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence (CoE) Initiative, some of which are carried out by the International Science and Technology Center (ISTC) AFCONE Executive Secretary Messaoud Baaliouamer welcomed the seventy plus participants, and pointed out the important role attributed to the EU as an external partner in the entire African Peace and security architecture, and in capacity building for nuclear security, in particular. The opening remarks on behalf of the European Union were made by Natalie Pauwels, Head of Unit, Stability and Peace, Global and Transregional Threats, Service for Foreign Policy Instruments. She presented the EU CBRN Centers of Excellence, three of which operate in Africa comprising 27 African states. She commended the support they get from the EC Joint Research Center and ISTC. Ms Pouwels represents the EU on the ISTC Governing Board. The main theme on the presentation of the IAEA representative Elena Buglova, IAEA Nuclear Security Division Director, who…
Kenyan Partners Take Interest in ISTC Project Proposal Elaboration

Friday February 19th, 2021

As Kenya is on the eve of becoming the first African State Party to ISTC, the International Science and Technology Center, jointly with its proven and reliable partners - the National Commission for Science, Technology, and Innovation (NACOSTI) and the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) - organized on 17 January 2021 a webinar for potentially interested scientists and research organizations. The purpose of the event was to acquaint potential applicants for cooperation with ISTC with the process of elaboration and assessment of ISTC project proposals, applications for mobility and conference support, as well as with relevant documentation from the ISTC Rules and Procedures. Special attention was attributed to the major tool for project generation – the ISTC Forum, presented by its architect - Dr Burkhard Endrullat, ISTC Senior Programme Manager. Approximately 90 people attended the webinar, co-hosted by Dr Henry Rotich, KEBS Director of Metrology and Testing, and Dr David Otwoma, NACOSTI Chief Analyst. This audience comprised scientists and experts who have already cooperated with the ISTC during the last three years through the implementation of the EU CBRN CoE Project 60 on Nuclear Security. Others, like the leaders of African Young Generation in Nuclear, had experience acquired through another…
A Webex Meeting with Kenyan Experts Concludes the Round of Regulatory Reviews

Monday February 15th, 2021

On 9 February 2021, ISTC took part in a videoconference with the Kenya Nuclear Regulatory Authority, led by its Director, Joseph Maina, the Head of the EU CBRN Regional Secretariat in Central and East Africa. The session completed the round of discussions with each country participating in Project 60 on the topic of their national legal and regulatory frameworks of nuclear activities and security. The ENCO Expert team presented specially elaborated analytical tools for evaluation, namely Tables of compliance for law and for regulations. Their application allows to examine Kenya’s legislation against international nuclear security recommendations and best practices. The basic document assessed with the tools was the Nuclear Regulatory Act No.29 of 2019. It was implemented throughout the last year. The Project Expert team noted that the Act represents a very good piece of legislation. The expert recommendations focused on definitions, graded approach in regulating nuclear activities and Defence-in-depth approach, verification of compliance, enforcement, RN emergency response plan and contingency plan. An additional advantage of the Act is that it allows for extensive regulatory activities, including adoption of complementary secondary legislation. On behalf of the Kenyan experts, the National Focal Point Ali Gakweli expressed appreciation for the ENCO recommendations,…