Zambian-Russian Intergovernmental Agreement on cooperation in construction of the Center for Nuclear Sciences and Technology
On 16 February, 2017, during the visit of the Zambian delegation to Moscow, the Government of the Republic of Zambia and the Government of the Russian Federation signed an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the construction of the Center for Nuclear Sciences and Technology in Zambia. The document was signed by Simon Miti, Permanent Secretary to the Cabinet Office from the side of the Republic of Zambia, and Alexey Likhachev, Chief Executive Officer of Rosatom, from the Russian side.
The Agreement envisages the construction of the Center that will function on the basis of a multifunctional research water moderated water cooled reactor with the capacity of 10 MW. The Center will have laboratories and functional facilities providing for the whole range of scientific researches. It will also make it possible to carry out researches in radiobiology, launch the production of isotopes in Zambia that are supposed to be widely used in cancer diagnostics and oncotherapy. Radiation treatment and pest control for food and agricultural products on the basis of the Center will increase the storage life of products resulting in the expansion of the agricultural product export from Zambia. The Center is also supposed to be used as a training base for highly skilled nuclear personnel who will be able to complete the nuclear and research program of Zambia.
“Rosatom has constructed over 120 research reactors all over the world, while 20 of them have been built in foreign countries including China, Egypt, Germany, the Czech Republic. That is our expertise and knowledge that allow Zambia to implement a project of such a great importance for the country. Rosatom is willing to provide the comprehensive support to its African partners including assistance in their efforts to improve the nuclear infrastructure required for the implementation of the national nuclear power program, training of the required personnel and other project issues”, said Alexey Likhachev after signing the Agreement.
