International Science and Technology Center (ISTC) is currently conducting the second phase of the EU-funded Project MC 5.01 15B Support to the Southern African States (SADC) in Nuclear Safety and Safeguards. The main objective of the Project is to strengthen and harmonize the nuclear regulatory frameworks in the participating countries for sustainable uranium mining, milling, processing and associated transport in the sub-Saharan region of Africa.

Based on a bilateral Memorandum of Cooperation between ISTC and the Nuclear Technology Safety Center (NTSC), the NTSC actively participates in the implementation of the project “Virtual Study Visit of African partners to Kazakhstan Nuclear Installations and Uranium Mines”.

A program for a series of webinars was elaborated to acquaint experts from the African countries with Kazakhstan experience in ensuring safety in the processes of mining, milling and transport of uranium ore, as well as with the work of international structures with relevant activities, based in Kazakhstan. The second event of the “Virtual Study Visit” took place on 8-9 February 2022. The participants from 15 African countries attended the webinar.

The Kazakhstani experts in the field of the atomic industry and regulatory control presented the following topics: Kazakhstan Committee for Atomic Energy Supervision and Control. Ensuring Compliance to the Requirements (Shaiakhmet Shiganakov), Threat Assessment (Sergey Chelnokov) Notification and authorization system (Aman Akylov), Transportation Control Center (TCC) (Daulet Baisaganov). The Armenian expert, Mr. Vazgen Chichyan, also provided the presentation “On determining special rules for the movement of nuclear and radioactive materials”.