May 15, Sochi – ROSATOM and the Republic of Zambia signed a general contract for the construction of a Centre for Nuclear Science and Technology (CNST). The signing took place during the 10th international Atomexpo-2018 forum in Sochi. On behalf of Russia, the document was signed by Director General of State Specialized Design Institute JSC (GSPI) Vyacheslav Galushkov, on behalf of Zambia – by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education of the Republic of Zambia Mabvuto Sakala. The signing procedure took place in the presence of the Director General of ROSATOM Alexey Likhachev and the Minister of Energy of the Republic of Zambia Mathew Nkhuwa.
Construction of the center is the first joint project of Russia and Zambia in the field of nuclear technologies.
Alexey Likhachev said: “Signing the contract opens a new chapter in the partnership between Russia and Zambia. In the nearest future, we plan to start extensive practical works, including engineering surveys at the site of the centre, assessment of nuclear infrastructure and subsequent development plan in accordance with IAEA recommendations as well as global and Russian best practice. Construction of the center will enable the Republic of Zambia to become one of the leading players in nuclear technologies application in the Central and Southern African region”.
The center will be located 10 kilometers away from the capital of Zambia, Lusaka. The CNST will include a nuclear research facility based on a multipurpose research water-cooled reactor of up to 10 MW, a state of the art laboratory complex, multipurpose irradiation center as well as a cyclotron-based nuclear medicine center. The project will be implemented in several stages within 3-6 years from the work commencement date under the contract.
The Center will ensure wide application of radiation technologies in medicine, industry and agriculture. The CNST will also promote the growth of national education and science through the training of highly qualified experts in various fields.
The radioisotopes produced here will be used to diagnose and treat primarily cancer and cardiac diseases, which will generally increase availability of high-tech nuclear medicine for Zambia’s population. The use of radiation for food processing will improve food safety and create conditions for the increase of Zambian agricultural exports.
Russia was represented in the CNST negotiations by the experts of Rusatom Overseas JSC, its management perimeter includes the GSPI. The contract signing strengthens significantly the presence of Rosatom on the global market of non-energy products and technologies, which shows dynamic growth rates today.
For more than 60 years, research reactors have been contributing to the development of scientific innovation and education in more than 50 countries around the world. Currently, there are 245 working research reactors in the world with 58 units operated in Russia. Rosatom has built more than 120 research reactors in Russia and abroad. Earlier, in September 2017, a contract for construction of the Bolivian Nuclear Research and Technology Center in El Alto was signed.