By Mubarak Al-Hajri
VIENNA, Sep 22 (KUNA) -- A Kuwaiti official has unveiled her country's involvement in 10 projects with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for the years 2018-2019.
The Director General of the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) Dr. Samira A. S. Omar gave a statement to KUNA on the sidelines of the 62nd IAEA General Conference. Dr. Samira assured Kuwait's continued efforts to strengthen cooperation with the IAEA in all fields relating to the peaceful application of science and nuclear technology.
This cooperation has played a central role in maintaining a strong relationship with the agency on the administrative and strategic levels, she said.
She pointed out advancements in proposals for hosting regional centers in Kuwait, like the subsequent radiation doses measurement center presented on by the protective radiation department in the Health Ministry, and the center for nuclear medicine and medical physics by the fight against cancer center in Kuwait and the Hydro isotopes center embarked on by the KISR.
The Kuwaiti delegate participated in a conference of the regional agreement for the Arab states in Asia on Eurasian research and development in the field of nuclear sciences on the sidelines of the IAEA's conference.
A cooperative project has been agreed on for nuclear energy bodies of Eurasia, which was put forth by Kuwait related to the studies on dust and sludge and their radioactive components with atomic methods, she noted.
She added, the agency's program of technical cooperation helps support in the efforts to build up human capacity and institutions in order to use nuclear technology safely and undertake the local needs in the national social and economic development, and contribute to solving worldwide cases.
As part of the technical cooperation program, the KISR is in constant contact with the agency to support programs presented by other agencies in Kuwait, which are related to nuclear safety, security and safeguards that are in the interests of Kuwait.
Dr. Samira also mentioned that the current programs have a high achievement ratio, which has won the admiration and praise of the Technical Cooperation Department's management, pointing to the 2018-2019 specialized budget for the Kuwaiti programs of EUR 600,000 (KD 215,000 approximately).
On the currently implemented program, she clarified that the presently implemented programs are the application of nuclear techniques to improve water production and efficiency to feed fodder crops and the application of genetic mutation events to improve barley yield in harsh environmental conditions in addition to developing the dosimetry laboratory for patients in nuclear medicine project.
Dr. Samira also mentioned the additional programs like the Comprehensive nuclear medicine education program, the study of carbon acidification and transfer in marine waters, groundwater management project, sub-surface groundwater assessment project, project for monitoring harmful viral reproduction, and a project for the establishment of the national laboratory for measurement of radiation doses and development of national analytical capabilities for the monitoring of radiation and environmental activity.
On the five projects presented by Kuwait to the IAEA, she clarified that they are dispersed among all bodies and institutions of the country, which are the development of nuclear techniques in the petroleum industry, radioactive waste management, reducing the radiation risks of atomic medicine workers, improving production and efficiency of chemical fertilizer for fodders crops, and the second stage of applying genetic mutation events to strengthen the barley harvest in harsh environments.
She also added the suggestions for five additional projects presented by Kuwait for the years 2020-2022, are currently under development with the help of the agency's experts.
She praised the efforts of the Kuwaiti ambassador to Austria and permanent representative of the state to international organizations Sadeq Marafie who lead the Kuwaiti delegation in this five-day conference, all present with the commission, and the embassy's staff in a consolidation of cooperation with the IAEA. (end) mah.aq