In Vienna, Austria, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is hosting a regional event to develop a draft regulation on radioactive waste management and decommissioning of nuclear facilities.

Otabek Eshmurodov, an employee of the Department of Radiation and Nuclear Safety of the Committee for Industrial, Radiation and Nuclear Safety, attends it. 

It should be emphasized that the aim of this event, which will last until February 28, is to support IAEA member states in developing regulatory documents for controlling radioactive waste from spent sealed sources of ionizing radiation, as well as for the decommissioning of nuclear facilities in accordance with international safety standards.

According to the Committee, from February 17 to 21 in Vienna, the IAEA held a technical meeting on radioactive waste and spent fuel management and decommissioning of small modular reactors (SMRs). Jalil Yusupov, an employee of the organization’s Department of Radiation and Nuclear Safety, participated as an expert.

At the meeting, the main focus was on studying the experience of IAEA member states in managing radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel. Technical and regulatory aspects of this process were also considered, and issues related to the decommissioning of SMRs at all stages of the facility’s operation were analyzed.

According to the Committee, the event also addressed issues such as ensuring safety in radioactive waste management, determining the infrastructure needs for SMR siting, creating an international platform for information exchange, and developing cooperation between SMR designers and specialized organizations.

Nasiba Ziyodullayeva, UzA