National Operator for Radioactive Waste Management to be established in KazakhstanA national operator for radioactive waste management will be created in Kazakhstan, announced Yedil Zhambyrshin, Chairman of the Committee on Ecology and Natural Resources Use of the Majilis."The general conditions for radioactive waste management are being established, the institution of a national operator for radioactive waste management is being introduced, and the sources of funding and technical infrastructure are being determined," Zhambyrshin said during the presentation of the draft law "On Radioactive Waste Management" on Tuesday.He noted that the national operator will become the central link in ensuring the country's nuclear and radiation safety and will assume full and comprehensive responsibility for the management and final disposal of radioactive waste.According to Zhambyrshin, one of the important provisions is the prohibition of the import, placement, and burial of foreign radioactive waste in Kazakhstan. This amendment is aimed at protecting the country's ecological sovereignty and national security.He added that today, sources of ionizing radiation are widely used in Kazakhstan in nuclear energy, science, medicine, and the oil, gas, and mining industries. As a result, various types of radioactive waste are generated.Furthermore, the problem of so-called "historical" radioactive waste has not been fully resolved in the country. These include the former Semipalatinsk nuclear test site, the former Azgir test site, the Koshkar-Ata tailings dump (Aktau city), and former uranium mines.In Zhambyrshin's opinion, the adoption of the bill will centralize the management of all stages of radioactive waste handling, shift from an accumulation approach to a policy of processing and disposal, and ensure long-term protection of the population and the environment from radiation exposure.Later, answering questions from the event participants, he clarified that the National Nuclear Center would be designated as the operator."They have the experience, the material and technical base, and the relevant personnel. As part of the preparation of this bill, we were in Kurchatov and familiarized ourselves with the work and activities of this center. They are doing very serious work at world standards’ level," Zhambyrshin noted. (ICE ALMATY)

Fonte notizia: INTERFAX