BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 21. Agency of
Kazakhstan for Atomic Energy held meetings with Swiss officials and
representatives of radioactive waste management company NAGRA in
Bern on October 20 to discuss cooperation in nuclear safety and
radioactive waste management, according to the agency.


The Kazakh delegation included representatives of the National
Nuclear Center of Kazakhstan and the Embassy of Kazakhstan in
Switzerland.


During the visit, the delegation met with Benoît Revaz, Director
of the Swiss Federal Office of Energy. The sides discussed
prospects for cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy and
the exchange of experience in nuclear energy regulation and nuclear
safety.


Particular attention was paid to improving Kazakhstan’s national
nuclear and radiation regulatory system in line with international
standards and Swiss experience.


The delegation also met with representatives of NAGRA compnay to
discuss practical cooperation between the company and Kazakhstan’s
National Nuclear Center.


The two organizations had previously signed a memorandum of
understanding and prepared a cooperation roadmap focused on the
safe management of radioactive waste.







Kazakhstan is working to establish a modern national system for
radioactive waste management. The country’s law on radioactive
waste management has entered into force, providing a legal
framework for regulating all stages of the process, from waste
generation and temporary storage to final disposal.


The agency said that studying Swiss experience and applying
international practices were important for implementing
Kazakhstan’s national projects in this area.


The meetings reaffirmed the sides’ interest in continuing
professional dialogue and exchanging experience in the peaceful use
of nuclear energy, nuclear safety and radioactive waste
management.


Kazakhstan’s National Nuclear Center, based in Kurchatov,
conducts research in nuclear energy and safety. It operates the
IVG.1M and IGR research reactors and carries out studies on reactor
safety and materials science.


NAGRA specializes in developing solutions for the safe
management of radioactive waste, including its final disposal.