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Peru Takes Steps Towards its Goal of Universal Health Care for Cancer Patients

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Members of the imPACT Review team visited hospitals and facilities in five different regions to gain a thorough understanding of the state of cancer care and control in Peru. Here they are discussing a medical diagnosis at CEIM, a medical diagnostic imaging center in Iquitos, Peru.

Peru is advancing towards its goal of delivering universal health care to all cancer patients; decentralization of nuclear medicine and radiotherapy cancer services outside of the capital city is now well underway; and its second National Cancer Control Plan is nearing completion, a team of national and international cancer experts from the IAEA, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has found.

The team were on the ground in Peru in April to conduct a thorough review of cancer control capacity and needs as part of an imPACT Review mission.

During the mission, experts noted that further reinforcements, particularly in the areas of nuclear medicine and radiotherapy, would bring further improvements, but said resources were limited. Subsequently,  IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi paid an official visit to Peru in June 2. He visited the National Cancer Institute (Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplásicas – INEN) and confirmed the IAEA’s commitment to supporting Peru in its efforts to control cancer under the IAEA’s flagship Rays of Hope initiative, aimed at widening access to cancer care where the need is greatest.

“Through Rays of Hope, the IAEA will support Peru’s efforts to enhance cancer treatment capabilities by providing additional equipment to strengthen radiotherapy services,” he announced during the visit. 

Support is needed in a country which the IARC’s Global Cancer Observatory (Globocan) estimates to have the fourth largest incidence of cancer in the region. In 2022, the number of recorded new cancer cases were estimated to be just above 70 000, primarily affecting the prostate, stomach and colorectum. With these numbers expected to rise by more than 30 per cent by 2035, the Ministry of Health requested a second imPACT Review to support its cancer control efforts, a decade after the first.

“It was an honour to note the progress taken by the Peruvian health authorities since our organizations last conducted an imPACT Review in the country,” said Lisa Stevens, Director of the IAEA’s Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy (PACT), while in Lima with the imPACT review team. “Positive steps were observed at all levels of the cancer control continuum, including for planning, screening, training, registration and management,” she added.

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Progress as Countries Seek to Join the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Some 60 representatives from 14 Parties and Signatories (Argentina, Australia, Canada, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Japan, Lebanon, Lithuania, Morocco, Peru, Philippines, United Arab Emirates, and United States of America) and 18 invited observer countries (Armenia, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Kenya, Mexico, Myanmar, Paraguay, Poland, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, United Kingdom, and Uruguay), as well as invited observers from nuclear suppliers, insurers, lenders, the European Union and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Nuclear Energy Agency, all participated in the Fourth Meeting.

The meeting focused on efforts to expand CSC membership and to provide guidance on the operation of the CSC. In particular, representatives from countries that are in the process of, or giving serious consideration to, joining the CSC shared their views and perspectives on the convention, including suggestions on activities that could facilitate decisions to become a party. A number of reasons for joining the CSC were identified, including increasing public acceptance through higher assured compensation; addressing supply chain concerns; promoting investor and lender confidence; and securing treaty relations with both neighbouring countries and countries where suppliers, investors and lenders are located. Industry participants expressed the view that a global liability regime based on the CSC would greatly facilitate the treatment of nuclear liability in nuclear power projects around the world, and expressed the hope that more countries would join the CSC.

Ben McRae, Chair of the Fourth Meeting and Assistant General Counsel for Civilian Nuclear Programs at the US Department of Energy stated that the global nuclear liability regime based on the CSC was key to achieving the full promise of nuclear power to address climate change, economic development and energy security.

 “The CSC assures prompt, equitable and meaningful compensation for damage to people, property, and the environment and provides the legal certainty necessary for operators, suppliers, investors, lenders and insurers to participate in nuclear projects.

 “The CSC provides neighbouring countries the means to take a regional approach to dealing with liability and ensures the courts of a costal state have exclusive jurisdiction over a nuclear accident in its territorial sea and exclusive economic zone,” McRae said

Representatives from the financial sector and the insurance community also provided information on how they assess nuclear risk in deciding on investment in, and insurance for, nuclear power projects. Participants were updated on the status of compensation following the Fukushima Daiichi NPP accident.

Anthony Wetherall, Head of the Nuclear and Treaty Law Section in the IAEA Office of Legal Affairs, stated that “the annual CSC meetings and inter-sessional work contribute to the readiness of the Parties to put the convention into operation, including the supplementary international fund, should it ever be needed. In addition to discussing related matters, a key purpose of this meeting is to raise awareness and deepen the understanding of the CSC among those countries that are seeking to join the convention.”

The Inaugural Meeting of CSC Parties and Signatories was held in Ottawa, Canada in 2019, during which the IAEA accepted the request to act as the Secretariat for future meetings and to convene such meetings on a regular basis. Background

The CSC was adopted under IAEA auspices in 1997 and is the single existing international nuclear liability convention covering the greatest number of nuclear power reactors worldwide, approximately 180, or 43 per cent of such operational reactors. The CSC has 11 Parties (Argentina, Benin, Canada, Ghana, India, Japan, Montenegro, Morocco, Romania, United Arab Emirates and United States of America) and 11 Signatories (Australia, Czech Republic, Indonesia, Italy, Lebanon, Lithuania, Mauritius, Peru, Philippines, Senegal and Ukraine). The Convention functions as an ‘umbrella’ for all countries that are party to one of the existing international nuclear liability conventions or have national legislation in place conforming to the basic nuclear liability principles in the Annex to the CSC. The IAEA’s online CSC calculator enables countries to run scenarios of potential contributions to the CSC’s contingent supplementary international fund.

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Progress as Countries Seek to Join Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Some 60 representatives from 14 Parties and Signatories (Argentina, Australia, Canada, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Japan, Lebanon, Lithuania, Morocco, Peru, Philippines, United Arab Emirates, and United States of America) and 18 invited observer countries (Armenia, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Kenya, Mexico, Myanmar, Paraguay, Poland, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, United Kingdom, and Uruguay), as well as invited observers from nuclear suppliers, insurers, lenders, the European Union and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Nuclear Energy Agency, all participated in the Fourth Meeting.

The meeting focused on efforts to expand CSC membership and to provide guidance on the operation of the CSC. In particular, representatives from countries that are in the process of, or giving serious consideration to, joining the CSC shared their views and perspectives on the convention, including suggestions on activities that could facilitate decisions to become a party. A number of reasons for joining the CSC were identified, including increasing public acceptance through higher assured compensation; addressing supply chain concerns; promoting investor and lender confidence; and securing treaty relations with both neighbouring countries and countries where suppliers, investors and lenders are located. Industry participants expressed the view that a global liability regime based on the CSC would greatly facilitate the treatment of nuclear liability in nuclear power projects around the world, and expressed the hope that more countries would join the CSC.

Ben McRae, Chair of the Fourth Meeting and Assistant General Counsel for Civilian Nuclear Programs at the US Department of Energy stated that the global nuclear liability regime based on the CSC was key to achieving the full promise of nuclear power to address climate change, economic development and energy security.

 “The CSC assures prompt, equitable and meaningful compensation for damage to people, property, and the environment and provides the legal certainty necessary for operators, suppliers, investors, lenders and insurers to participate in nuclear projects.

 “The CSC provides neighbouring countries the means to take a regional approach to dealing with liability and ensures the courts of a costal state have exclusive jurisdiction over a nuclear accident in its territorial sea and exclusive economic zone,” McRae said

Representatives from the financial sector and the insurance community also provided information on how they assess nuclear risk in deciding on investment in, and insurance for, nuclear power projects. Participants were updated on the status of compensation following the Fukushima Daiichi NPP accident.

Anthony Wetherall, Head of the Nuclear and Treaty Law Section in the IAEA Office of Legal Affairs, stated that “the annual CSC meetings and inter-sessional work contribute to the readiness of the Parties to put the convention into operation, including the supplementary international fund, should it ever be needed. In addition to discussing related matters, a key purpose of this meeting is to raise awareness and deepen the understanding of the CSC among those countries that are seeking to join the convention.”

The Inaugural Meeting of CSC Parties and Signatories was held in Ottawa, Canada in 2019, during which the IAEA accepted the request to act as the Secretariat for future meetings and to convene such meetings on a regular basis. Background

The CSC was adopted under IAEA auspices in 1997 and is the single existing international nuclear liability convention covering the greatest number of nuclear power reactors worldwide, approximately 180, or 43 per cent of such operational reactors. The CSC has 11 Parties (Argentina, Benin, Canada, Ghana, India, Japan, Montenegro, Morocco, Romania, United Arab Emirates and United States of America) and 11 Signatories (Australia, Czech Republic, Indonesia, Italy, Lebanon, Lithuania, Mauritius, Peru, Philippines, Senegal and Ukraine). The Convention functions as an ‘umbrella’ for all countries that are party to one of the existing international nuclear liability conventions or have national legislation in place conforming to the basic nuclear liability principles in the Annex to the CSC. The IAEA’s online CSC calculator enables countries to run scenarios of potential contributions to the CSC’s contingent supplementary international fund.

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IAEA Deepens Ties with the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Deputy Director General Hua Liu and Director Dima Al-Khatib sign a Statement of Intent on the margins of the UN High-Level Political Forum for Sustainable Development in New York. (Photo: M. Evans/IAEA)

The IAEA and the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) will launch a new series of joint activities to enhance collaboration, following an agreement signed during the recent UN High Level Political Forum in New York. The agreement, which includes joint workshops, outreach events and a new publication, will link the IAEA more closely with an international community of South-South practitioners.

“South-South cooperation is at the heart of the IAEA’s technical cooperation programme, as it is key to enhancing impact and ensuring sustainable development. We look forward to strengthening our ties with UNOSSC to widen the reach of our activities and support offered through South-South cooperation,” said Hua Liu, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Technical Cooperation.

The agreement builds on collaborative efforts over the last several years and includes an accompanying action plan with clear goals for new products and initiatives. Through the agreement, the IAEA will participate in new UNOSSC programmes, including its ‘Data to Policy Network’ and ‘Solutions Lab’ over the next year.

Under the auspices of the UNOSSC ‘Data to Policy Network’, the IAEA will host targeted workshops for national policymakers to consider climate action success stories that might be adapted to their countries’ needs. The UNOSSC ‘Solutions Lab’ will bring the IAEA together with other international organizations to identify areas where nuclear science and technology can be supported by conventional techniques. For example, although scientists can analyse water resources through isotope hydrology, it is water management methods like drip irrigation that ultimately conserve water.

“UNOSSC is very pleased to join efforts with the IAEA to leverage our networks and instruments to advance science-backed solutions and knowledge to bridge Sustainable Development Goal gaps via South-South and triangular cooperation,” said Dima Al-Khatib, Director of UNOSSC.

The first set of IAEA-UNOSSC activities covered by the agreement will focus on how the IAEA uses South-South and triangular cooperation to help countries to combat the effects of climate change, which are disproportionately damaging for developing countries.

From climate-smart agriculture to groundwater mapping, a new IAEA-UNOSSC joint publication will feature twenty IAEA climate action case studies with a South-South cooperation component, demonstrating how South-South cooperation is benefiting countries in the Global South.

Scientists in Pakistan demonstrate the benefits of plant breeding for tackling salinization to training course participants. (Photo: M. Zaman/IAEA)

For instance, after the IAEA supported Pakistan to develop more salt-tolerant crops, the Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology went on to share their expertise with other countries directly by hosting fellowships and training courses. In the case of increasingly strained shared environmental resources, such as aquifers or the ocean, if one institution has the equipment and trained staff necessary to process samples, this can be leveraged to gain an accurate picture of environmental conditions in the whole region. In the Sahel region, African scientists at the University of Lomé analyse groundwater samples collected across 13 countries to better understand water availability.

South-South cooperation is the sharing of resources and experience among countries of the global South, whereas triangular cooperation is South-South cooperation that is facilitated by a global North country or international organization. Particularly at the regional level, countries can boost each other’s sustainable development through South-South cooperation by supporting their neighbours in areas where they have an advantage – in knowledge and expertise, or in facilities, for example. 

Ongoing collaboration between the IAEA and UNOSSC continues to raise awareness of the important role that nuclear science and technology can play in supporting countries’ efforts for sustainable development.

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Recycling Radioactive Sources to Support Cancer Treatments

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Staff members from CNL and TINT after the second Ra-226 repackaging (Photo: Archara Phattanasub/TINT)

“The IAEA has long championed the safe storage and disposal of disused sealed radioactive sources, which has always been appreciated and supported by Canada,” said Jack Craig, President and CEO of CNL. “However, their initiatives to assist donor nations in removing long-term liabilities while enabling a new radiotherapeutics industry is monumental. CNL is also grateful to the Kingdom of Thailand and our new international collaborators, TINT, for their contribution to this new class of cancer therapeutic drugs.”   

TINT first reached out to the IAEA about this project in February 2022 and met with CNL later that year. After TINT confirmed the receipt of their export license in June 2023, over 70 packages of disused radium-226 were sent to Canada.  

The international transfer of radioactive material is a multifaceted endeavour requiring close collaboration among several entities, including regulatory bodies (in Thailand, it is the Office of Atoms for Peace) and port authorities. Diligent work in radiation and contamination monitoring, source inspection, characterization and repackaging, is performed with IAEA support prior to shipment.   

“Thailand, through TINT, has successfully transferred the radium-226 sources to Canada with great support and excellent coordination from the IAEA and relevant authorities of both countries,” said Thawatchai Onjun, Executive Director of TINT.  

TINT constructed a dedicated radioactive waste storage facility at its Ongkharak site in 2013 which became functional in 2016. “Recycling these sources has multiple benefits for Thailand and is in line with circular economy objectives,” said Archara Phattanasub, Head of the Radioactive Waste Technology and Development Section in TINT. “This initiative has helped up significantly reduce the risk for any type of incident associated with these disused sources and freed up a lot of space in our national storage facility.” 

Looking ahead, there are several more transfers planned for 2024 as part of this initiative. Shipments from Curaçao, El Salvador, Fiji and Slovenia are set to take place later this year.  In December, the IAEA will host a technical meeting on the initiative to review progress, examine lessons learned and identify future opportunities for collaboration. 

“The collaboration exhibited by CNL and TINT serves as a great example of how to effectively conduct complex source transportation operations with many moving parts,” said Mykolaichuk. “Fostering sustainable practices is a key element of the IAEA’s mandate, and we look forward to delivering on this initiative for many years to come.”    

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World Youth Skills Day: IAEA Challenge Supports the Next Generation of STEM Workforce

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Mikhail Chudakov, Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Energy presented awards to the IAEA proSTEM challenge winners. (Photo: X. Tang/IAEA)

In the run up to World Youth Skills Day, young science-enthusiasts came to the IAEA to share their ideas for cultivating a future nuclear workforce with the right skills to meet global challenges. 

These challenges include climate change, increasing food insecurity, and a growing cancer burden.  More young people need to be inspired to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), to address these issues and achieve ambitious goals, such as increasing the role of nuclear energy in the future energy mix. World Youth Skills Day,  observed annually on 15 July, recognizes the potential of young people as catalysts for change and contributors to a prosperous and sustainable future for all. The day highlights the importance of equipping youth with the skills and opportunities necessary to innovate and drive progress in addressing global challenges. 

Earlier this month, finalists in the travelled to Vienna to attend the  International Conference on Nuclear Knowledge Management and Human Resources Development. During a session on attracting talent to the nuclear sector, proSTEM finalists shared their innovative ideas and projects on developing the future STEM workforce. 

“The IAEA is dedicated to fostering and empowering the next generation of STEM professionals. By encouraging innovative, inclusive and diverse ideas and projects, such as those showcased in the IAEA proSTEM Challenge, the IAEA helps the young generation to further understand the importance of STEM in addressing global climate emergency and facilitating clean energy transition and inspires and attracts new generation of workforce in STEM related specialities. On World Youth Skills Day, we celebrate these young talents who will drive sustainable development and create a brighter future for all,” said Huang Wei, Director of the IAEA Division of Planning, Information and Knowledge Management. 

The IAEA proSTEM Challenge encouraged participants to submit their innovative ideas and outreach projects to attract and develop the next generation of workforce in STEM-related fields, with nearly 90 participants from 26 countries submitting projects. 

“The proSTEM challenge gave a unique opportunity for so many people from across the world to showcase their innovative ideas and contribute to the global effort of inspiring, attracting and retaining youth in STEM education and careers. Best practices and experiences of communication strategies among diverse groups helped to bridge the skill gap,” said Alesia Iunikova, an IAEA Knowledge Management Specialist.

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Call for Applications: 2024 IAEA Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

To date, over 40% of MSCFP students have pursued master’s degrees in nuclear sciences and applications, while the second most popular subject, at around 35%, is nuclear energy, followed by nuclear safety, nuclear security, safeguards and non-proliferation, as well as nuclear law.

After completing the programme, some recipients have continued to PhD studies while others start their careers. Elvia Reyes Guevara, an MSCFP recipient from Guatemala, pursued her degree in Nuclear Science and Applications in the United States with the support of the MSCFP.

“Thanks to the IAEA MSCFP, I was able to focus on my master’s degree without the financial burden. The scholarship helped cover the cost of living in a new country, and university tuition. I was able to shadow medical physicists and assist in different research projects related to the development of new technology for future patient care in radiation therapy. These experiences helped me obtain a placement in a medical physics residency programme after graduation.”

The MSCFP is supported by contributions from IAEA Member States and partners. More information on the programme, including facts and figures, testimonials, donors and programme components can be found here.

The MSCFP is open to applicants pursuing master’s studies in nuclear related disciplines. Eligible early- and mid-career women professionals interested in career development opportunities can consider applying to the Lise Meitner Programme.

More information on how to apply can be found here.

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Seafood Contamination Detected with Nuclear Techniques

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

CEAC researchers look for toxins using the receptor binding assay. (Photo: Cienfuegos Center for Environmental Studies) 

To address the ciguatoxin problem, the IAEA has been building capacity for ciguatera monitoring through nuclear and isotopic techniques that can quickly identify biotoxins in seafood and accurately identify outbreaks compared to other methods.  The IAEA’s Marine Environment Laboratories help ensure that innovative detection methods can be adopted by the countries most affected by ciguatera.  

For instance, the IAEA has arranged training in Cuba on a new approach to use a ‘receptor binding assay’ (RBA) to detect ciguatoxins even in samples containing multiple toxin variants. This equips local scientists with the tools to identify fish at high-risk from ciguatoxin contamination and make informed decisions about seafood safety. 

The RBA technology is of particular importance, as it is now used as a recognized regulatory method to certify the safety of seafood, such as shellfish imported to the European Union for consumption. 

The transfer of this RBA technology to Caribbean nations has empowered local scientists to monitor marine toxins more effectively.  The early detection of harmful algal blooms that produce ciguatoxins has helped Caribbean nations to implement early warning systems for seafood safety. The IAEA has organized international workshops to train scientists from small island developing states in the latest techniques to detect marine toxins and foster global collaboration and knowledge exchange so that even nations with limited resources can better protect their citizens and maintain safe, sustainable fisheries. 

The scientific data collected assists member countries in detecting and characterizing biotoxins, which enhances preparedness and response to relevant public health emergencies. 

“With the right tools, ciguatera blooms and ciguatoxin outbreaks can be effectively mitigated,” said Alejandro Garcia Moya, Director of the Environmental Studies Centre of Cienfuegos (CEAC). “The IAEA workshops to transfer knowledge on marine toxin monitoring and management techniques are a key aspect in capacity building and strengthening in small islands developing states and consequently have a direct impact on the management of harmful algal blooms and their effects on our marine environments and the people relying on them.”   

“The IAEA has been collaborating with CEAC to enhance ciguatera monitoring in the region using nuclear and isotopic techniques,” said Florence Descroix-Comanducci, Director of the IAEA’s Marine Environment Laboratories. “Our expertise in nuclear science and technology and collaborations with scientific partners are a testament to what collaborative science can achieve.” 

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International Experts Gather to Advance Monitoring of Marine Microplastic Pollution

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

NUTEC Plastics helps countries integrate nuclear techniques when addressing the challenges of plastic pollution. It builds on a portfolio of IAEA research and technical cooperation projects around plastic recycling using radiation technology and marine monitoring of microplastics using isotopic tracing techniques.

Countries face a number of interrelated challenges in relation to monitoring the ocean environment. There is a deficiency in data: a lack of comprehensive and reliable information on microplastic abundance, origin and trends. This scientific evidence is vital for robust policy development.  

Finally, there is insufficient awareness among the general public, scientific community and policy makers about the scale and impact of microplastic pollution, including the potential effects on human health. 

The meeting was opened by IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, the Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, Jyoti Mathur-Filipp of UNEP, and the United Nations Special Envoy for the Ocean, Peter Thomson.  

Director General Grossi said that the IAEA will focus on building a global network of laboratories to monitor microplastics, share best practices, and develop protocols. “Nuclear technology can help us address the challenge of microplastics with unprecedented precision and effectiveness,” Mr Grossi explained.  “The global threat posed by plastic waste requires a global approach. It requires collaboration, partnerships and coordinated action,” he added.

“Innovative partnerships such as the IAEA NUTEC Plastics initiative bring together the human, technological and financial capital to help the world monitor and develop targeted solutions to the plastic pollution crisis,” said UNEP’s Ms Mathur-Filipp. “These are exactly the kinds of alliances we need to stem the tide of plastic pollution as members work towards agreeing on the instrument by the end of this year.” 

“Once pristine shorelines and rivers are now littered with plastic debris…meanwhile, unseen to the naked eye, microplastics are making their way into our bloodstreams, crossing placental and blood brain barriers,” explained Peter Thomson. 

“NUTEC Plastics is a new way of thinking, an innovative way of measuring our problem, and through its comprehensive deployment, I am confident we will find our way towards a cure for the plague of plastic pollution,” he added. 

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IAEA Reviews Uranium Exploration Plan Amid Uganda’s Journey to Domestic Nuclear Power

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

An IAEA-led team of international experts in Uganda has concluded the Agency’s inaugural review of a uranium production cycle. Performed at the request of the Ugandan government, the mission assessed the East African country’s capabilities to develop their uranium exploration programme and eventually mine uranium for a domestic nuclear power programme. 

Uganda is looking to use nuclear power as part of its plan to meet its clean energy goals and increase access to electricity for its population of nearly 50 million people. For now, only about half of Ugandans have access to electricity, but its government has set a goal of achieving an electricity access rate of more than 99% by 2030. The country is aiming for nuclear power generation by 2031, with the help of domestically sourced uranium.  

This first ever Integrated Uranium Production Cycle Review (IUPCR) mission, conducted with the support of the IAEA’s technical cooperation programme, evaluated the status of the infrastructure Uganda will need to support uranium exploration, the first phase of a uranium production cycle programme. Eighty-two participants, primarily from Uganda’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, were involved in mission activities, including a field visit to a site where exploration activities have been taking place. The mission team, comprised of experts from Argentina, Australia, France, Namibia and the IAEA, reviewed the status of 16 key aspects, including human resource capacity and the regulatory framework, and recommended steps that can be taken to bring the country closer to realizing its nuclear energy goals, which include a domestic supply of uranium. 

“The potential discovery of a uranium deposit and subsequent development of uranium resources in Uganda presents an exciting opportunity for the country to support its ambition to introduce nuclear power into its energy mix,” said Adrienne Hanly, the IAEA’s Technical Lead for Uranium Resources and Production. “While significant work remains to be done, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development now has a solid understanding of what is required to succeed in evaluation of the country’s uranium occurrences and the next steps needed to get there.”   

Several areas in Uganda have been identified as potentially uranium-rich, though no proven resources are currently known to exist. Exploration practices to make a final determination involve activities such as radiometric surveys and taking geochemical samples.  

“The government of Uganda is committed to adopting international best practices and this IAEA mission will ensure uranium exploration is done according to international standards,” said Ruth Nakabirwa Sentamu, Uganda’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Development. 

The IUPCR team made several recommendations to facilitate the success of the budding uranium exploration programme. These included that Uganda should ensure the development of skilled personnel for uranium exploration and that the discovery, assessment and development of potential uranium resources are accelerated by establishing a robust and well-funded exploration programme. 

The mission was implemented as part of a four-year project IAEA Technical Cooperation Project on supporting uranium exploration and evaluation, which commenced in 2022. Uranium exploration is highlighted as an important priority in Uganda’s new Country Programme Framework for the 2024-2029 period. “We are very supportive to strengthening the technical capacity of the Directorate of Geological Survey and Mines to explore and evaluate Uganda’s uranium occurrences in terms of skills development and exploration tools,” said Anna Grigoryan, IAEA Programme Management Officer for Uganda.