“The main focus of this mission is mainly to review the National Inventory of Category I and II Sources, and also to include a guide in the temporary warehouse that you have,” in the words of Vivian Pereira, head of the IAEA mission and Nuclear Engineer specialized in Disused Sealed Radioactive Sources.

Pereira began her program in Bolivia last Monday and held a meeting with Eusebio Aruquipa, executive director of the Electricity and Nuclear Technology Supervision Authority (AETN), AETN technical staff of the Nuclear Technology Directorate, and representatives of the Bolivian Agency of Nuclear Energy (ABEN) in La Paz.

“The Bolivian government is committed to Nuclear Physical Security, that is why we appreciate the presence of this very important mission in our country,” Aruquipa said and also highlighting the verification that the IAEA will carry out in Bolivia.

The CEO announced that during the stay, the team will make presentations on the project called “Improving Nuclear Physical Security through Sustainable Management of Disused Radioactive Sources, their Inventory, Storage and Code of Conduct”.

The mission offers Bolivia the possibility of managing the removal of category I and II radioactive sources, due to disuse or change in technology, and hosting a Spanish-speaking regional workshop on Policy and Strategy Development by 2024.

After the end of the mission, IAEA experts will present a preliminary report with conclusions and recommendations with the objective of improving the regulatory authority and management in matters of nuclear safety and radiological protection.

jrr/llp/oda/jpm