Summary Training Course Train the Trainers in Tanzania from April 1-12, 2019

Thursday April 18th, 2019

The Second Train the Trainers Training (TTT) event, with participation of 22 national experts from Ghana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Burundi, Zambia; Uganda and Tanzania was successfully concluded. The TTT was organised at the headquarters of the Tanzanian Atomic Energy Commission (TAEC) in Arusha, Tanzania from 01 to 12 April 2019. The TTT course was conducted by four instructors from ENCO and SCK●CEN. The TTT course was conducted over 11 training days and contained 10 Modules as follows: 1) Basic radiation safety and radiation protection measures, 2) Management of radioactive sources, 3) Equipment used for radiation safety control, detection, search, identification and recovery of radioactive sources, 4) International recommendations on security of radioactive sources, 5) Carrying out the regulatory security inspections of radioactive sources, 6) International recommendations on the national legal and regulatory framework for nuclear security, 7) Prevention of illicit trafficking of radioactive and nuclear material, 8) International recommendations on the security of Uranium Oxide Concentrates (UOC), 9) International recommendations on the preparedness and response to RN emergency events and 10) Planning, preparing and conducting training courses. The Days 1 and 2 were dedicated to Module 1 (Basic radiation safety and radiation protection measures) and Module…
Brief summary of the Training Course Train the Trainers – 11 to 22 March 2019 in Kenya

Thursday April 18th, 2019

The First Train the Trainers Training (TTT) event, with participation of 22 national experts from Malawi, Seychelles, Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya was successfully concluded. The TTT was organised at the Kenyan Radiation Protection Board (RPB) radioactive storage facility in Nairobi, Kenya from 11 to 22 March 2019. The TTT course was conducted by four instructors from ENCO, SCK●CEN and STUK. The TTT course was conducted over 11 training days and contained 10 Modules as follows: 1) Basic radiation safety and radiation protection measures, 2) Management of radioactive sources, 3) Equipment used for radiation safety control, detection, search, identification and recovery of radioactive sources, 4) International recommendations on security of radioactive sources, 5) Carrying out the regulatory security inspections of radioactive sources, 6) International recommendations on the national legal and regulatory framework for nuclear security, 7) Prevention of illicit trafficking of radioactive and nuclear material, 8) International recommendations on the security of Uranium Oxide Concentrates (UOC), 9) International recommendations on the preparedness and response to RN emergency events and 10) Planning, preparing and conducting training courses. The Days 1 and 2 were dedicated to Module 1 (Basic radiation safety and radiation protection measures) and Module 2 (Management of radioactive sources), during…
Brief summary of first Expert Mission for DRC in Kampala, Uganda 16 – 18 January 2019

Monday February 4th, 2019

The Expert Mission for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), in frame of the CBRN CoE Project 60, took place in Kampala, Uganda from 16 to 18 January 2019. Four national representatives from the Ministry of Scientific Research and Technology, the Regulatory Authority (CNPRI – Comité National de Protection contre les Rayonnements Ionisants), and from the CoE CBRN national team participated in the meeting. Two experts of the Consortium (ENCO, SCK•CEN and STUK) implemented the mission. The main objective of the mission was to collect information on the status and issues of interest for the areas covered by P 60. The current legislative framework in the DRC is defined in the law No. 017-2002 of 16 October 2002 which contains provisions for the protection against ionizing radiation and the physical protection of nuclear materials and nuclear facilities. The content of this law as well as the resulting regulatory documents were presented by the national experts who said that there is a project to revise this law and these regulatory documents. The Consortium experts reviewed thoroughly this Law and these regulatory documents with the national experts to identify if all these documents cover all necessary elements (based on international recommendations) for…
Brief summary first Expert Mission for Burundi in Kampala, Uganda 14 – 15 January 2019

Tuesday January 29th, 2019

The Expert Mission for Burundi, in frame of CoE Project 60, took place in Kampala, Uganda from 14 to 15 January 2019. Three national representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Water, Energy and Mines and the Ministry of Public Security and Disaster Management participated in the meeting. Two experts of the Consortium (ENCO, SCK•CEN and STUK) implemented the mission. The main objectives of the mission were to collect information on the status and issues of interest for the areas covered by P 60. Burundi has started to develop its legislative framework by drafting a Law on the peaceful use of nuclear energy in 2014, which has gone through a review process since then. The Law is in the administrative process at their government and needs to be approved (by the government first and then by the Parliament). This Law will be the basis for future work on the safe and secure management (regulatory framework, inventory, …) of RN materials in Burundi. The coordination of the different institutions involved in this matter could be enhanced and the roles and responsibilities should be well defined. Burundi has different agreements with neighboring countries on for example transport. As the…
ISTC PARTICIPATES IN THE IMPLEMENTERS FORUM OF THE EU CBRN CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE INITIATIVE

Monday January 28th, 2019

As part of its transition ISTC became engaged with the implementation of a number of EU regional projects in Central Asia, in the Middle East and in Africa. This made the Center a significant and desired interlocutor in the discussions over key operational and practical issues during the 2019 Implementers’ Forum of the European Union Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence. The ISTC Executive Director David Cleave took part in the meeting, accompanied by Henk Visser, SPM, and Kamen Velichkov, SPM and Diplomatic Advisor. The Forum was convened by Unit B5 – Security, Nuclear Safety of the EC Directorate General DEVCO on 17 January 2019, in Brussels. Its objectives of the were to give the implementers the possibility to exchange good practices about four main topics: EU CoE outreach and visibility; the need for a culture-sensitive approach; the selection of trainees and experts; and the organization of the events in the regions. Dr. Eddie Maier, Deputy Head of Unit, chaired the meeting attended by 42 representatives of 19 entities currently implementing the EU CBRN CoE projects, as well as representatives from the European Commission and European Union External Action Service. In the course of the discussions…
ISTC SUPPORTS THE SPREAD OF NUCLEAR SAFETY AND SECURITY CULTURE IN KENYA THROUGH PROJECT 60

Tuesday December 11th, 2018

The major challenges in the countries in Central and Eastern Africa in terms of radiation and nuclear risk mitigation are related to the safe management of radioactive sources that are growing in circulation. The protection of the environment, the workers and the general public against the related risks has thus to be regulated and implemented properly. That is why the EU-funded CBRN Project P-60 helps the government agencies and industries involved to achieve the necessary levels of quality, reliability and experience. In some of the countries, like Kenya, this started already several years ago. One of the institutions concerned is the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), the government statutory body with mandate to carry out metrology, standards, testing and certification services. In line with this mandate, KEBS conducted a workshop on "Radiation Safety and Nuclear Security" from 26 November to 7 December 2018, at Mombasa town, in Kenya. The workshop assembled middle level managers, shift operators, operating technicians and security supervisors in medical and industrial facilities. The workshop was attended by about 100 professionals from various sectors - industrial, medical, biomedical engineers, researchers, technologist, security, police and others. Participants in the workshop exchanged views on threat assessment, reporting on accidents…
Brief summary of P60 progress meeting in Lusaka, Zambia on 22 November 2018

Thursday December 6th, 2018

In the frame of the CoE project 60, the Progress review meeting was conducted on 22 November 2018 in Lusaka, Zambia. To minimize the costs, it was organized in the continuation of the WS on the Preparation of TTX and FX, also held in Lusaka. 27 national experts from 11 partner countries (PC) of the P60 attended (including five female participants) as well as four experts of the Implementing Consortium (ENCO, SCK-CEN, and STUK). The aim of this Progress meeting was to take stocks on the activities so far and the planned activities, to discuss about the progress made by the PCs, including events and actions taken, to discuss the situation on the collected documents in the PCs and to clarify the expectations of the review phase and on future development of national documents to reflect the gaps identified and recommendations. In term of the identification of gaps, the “Tool” to be used for the review is reflecting IAEA standards and international recommendations. Intensive interactions are necessary (and envisaged) between the Consortium and national experts during the review process and also during the phase where recommendations are established. Each PC presented the progress made so far within the P60 events,…
ISTC MANAGED EU PROJECTS FEATURE AT THE FORUM ON PEACE ANF SECURITY IN AFRICA

Friday November 30th, 2018

On 5 and 6 November 2018 in Senegal, the Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security convened its fifth Conference titled “Peace and Security in Africa: stakes of sustainable Stability & Development”. The Forum launched at the 2013 Elysée Summit in France gathers every year numbers of African Chief of State and Governments, international partners, and multiple actors involved in peace and securities issues. The first four editions gathered more than 500 high level participants coming from all over the world. Numerous and fruitful debates contributed to tackle the emerging security challenges and strategic issues the African continent is currently facing. The discussions reinforce the African partnership with the relevant international organizations, and in particular, with the European Union. One of the co-organizers is the Pretoria-based Institute for Security Studies, the think tank that in 2015 helped trigger the EU – African dialogue on nuclear security that resulted in two important EU projects: Support to the EU CBRN East and Central Africa Center of Excellence in Nuclear Security, and Support to the Southern African States in Nuclear Safety and Safeguards, both implemented by the International Science and Technology Center, and funded, respectively.by the EC Instrument supporting Stability and Peace, and…
Brief summary of the workshop on the preparation of the Regional Field and Table Top Exercises in Lusaka, Zambia from 19 to 21 November 2018

Friday November 30th, 2018

In the frame of the CoE project 60, the Workshop on the preparation of the regional field exercises (FX) and table top exercises (TTX) was successfully conducted in Lusaka, Zambia from 19 to 21 November 2018. 30 experts from 11 partner countries (PC) attended (including two female participants). Four experts of the Consortium (ENCO, SCK-CEN, and STUK) were implementing this Workshop. The Workshop aimed at discussing all important elements for establishing the framework for exercises: Objective, content and details of each scenarios; Availability of equipment and infrastructure for each TTX/FX; Logistics, roles and responsibilities of participants; Host country’s and Contractor’s team tasks and relevant procedures. The exercises are foreseen to address a variety of RN related challenges including: Cross border investigations of RN material; Illicit trafficking of RN material on land, sea and air; Nuclear forensics investigation related with illicit trafficking of RN material Radiological crime scene management; Uranium transport. For each theme, the Contractor’s team presented a general framework as well as a proposal for a scenario, including objectives, roles and responsibilities, equipment, infrastructure, logistics and procedures, etc. The presentations were followed by a plenary discussion with active participation and contribution from all PCs. This feedback supports the fine…
Brief summary of the Project 60 Expert Mission to Zambia

Monday October 15th, 2018

The Expert Mission to Zambia, in frame of CoE Project 60, took place in Lusaka from 3 to 6 September 2018. The fifteen staff of the main stakeholders, (one woman) including the Radiation Protection Authority (RPA), Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA); Zambia Police, Zambia Army, Zambia Air Force, National Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research (NISIR), Lusaka Fire Brigade, and Green Eagle Centre participated in the meetings and subsequent review visit to the RAW store. Two experts of the Consortium (ENCO, SCK-CEN, and STUK) implemented the mission. The objectives of the mission were to collect information on the status and issues of interest for the areas covered by P 60. The highlight for the mission in Zambia was that a significant part of the national CBRN team participated. Comprehensive discussion on the status and problems of main RN security issues was identified as being very useful for the CBRN NT. In terms of legislation and regulations related with radiological security and safety, a lot has been done in Zambia. At present, the Ionization Protection Act, No. 16 of 2005 and its Amendment, Act No. 19 of 2011, as well as the respective Regulations…