The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, met with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Astana on Tuesday and signed a cooperation project for the next five years.
“I am convinced that your visit is timely from the point of view of the development of our relations. You know that for Kazakhstan, working with your agency is a priority,” Tokayev said during his meeting with Grossi, according to a statement from the presidential press service.
Tokayev and Grossi discussed strengthening technical cooperation and the construction of a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan.
Additionally, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy entered into a National Framework Program with the IAEA, outlining cooperative efforts for the next five years.
The agreement, which serves as a foundation for technical cooperation between Astana and the IAEA, was signed by Grossi and Kazakh Energy Minister Almasadam Satkaliyev.
“The new program for 2023-2028 was developed taking into account the accumulated experience of technical cooperation and takes into consideration the fact that Kazakhstan plans to build its first nuclear power plant,” the Ministry of Energy said in a statement.
According to the ministry, the document defines the priority work areas: “nuclear energy infrastructure, nuclear and radiation safety, food safety, and nuclear medicine.”
The Kazakh Ministry of Energy, which has been cooperating with the IAEA since 1994, expects to receive “nuclear technologies and technical cooperation resources” within the framework of this program to support the country’s national development goals.
Source : La Prensa Latina
