Cooperating on regional security
Ten senior delegates from five Vietnam government organisations associated with nuclear science and technology spent several days in Australia from 9 November sharing knowledge on radioactive source security and emergency response.
ANSTO CEO, Dr Adi Paterson, receives a gift
from Dr Ngo (second from left) with members
of the Vietnamese delegation.
The delegation was led by Dr Ngo Dang Nhan, Director General of the Vietnam Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety (VARANS), who said that the visit had been very useful in giving delegates a greater understanding and appreciation of ANSTO’s research and activities. He also said that that the co-operative relationship between ANSTO and VARANS had been very productive and that future areas of collaboration were discussed.
The delegation studied different facilities at the ANSTO campus, including the OPAL research reactor and Bragg Institute. The delegation had the opportunity to engage with ANSTO’s waste management team and with researchers undertaking projects impacting health, the environment and materials science.
The delegation also visited the NSW Fire Brigade HAZMAT Service Centre, and NSW Police Operations Centre to gain a better understanding of ANSTO’s and Australia’s emergency preparedness and response operations. Members of Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), and the Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office (ASNO) made presentations on their regulatory functions.
Coordinated by ANSTO’s Regional Security of Radioactive Sources (RSRS) Project, the aim of the visit was to boost existing cooperation and identify future areas of collaboration in nuclear science and technology.
Next March (2010) ANSTO and VARANS will co-host a regional review in Da Lat on improving the security of radioactive sources security in Vietnam.
Posted: 16 November 2009