Zambia, Research hold Nuclear Research Centre talks

BUUMBA CHIMBULU writes@SunZambianOFFICIALS from Russia and Zambia are expected to hold a videoconference this month to discuss the ongoing project tobuild a nuclear research center in the country.The videoconference is scheduled for September that will discuss the roadmap, Zambia’s ambassador to Russia, ShadreckLuwita, told Sputnik on the sidelines of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum Secretariat’s presentation […]

Zambia, Research hold Nuclear Research Centre talks
BUUMBA CHIMBULU writes@SunZambianOFFICIALS from Russia and Zambia are expected to hold a videoconference this month to discuss the ongoing project tobuild a nuclear research center in the country.The videoconference is scheduled for September that will discuss the roadmap, Zambia’s ambassador to Russia, ShadreckLuwita, told Sputnik on the sidelines of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum Secretariat’s presentation in Moscow on Wednesdaythis week.Citing the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, Mr Luwita said he was hoping that progress would be made on theproject in the coming months.“Because of the lockdown, the project was suspended, so now the project is going to be reviewed, so that we hear a revisedroadmap on how the project is going to be implemented.“The videoconference is scheduled for September that will discuss the roadmap, that is when we will have a clear picture as towhen the official visits can commence from both sides,” he said.Mr Luwita said now as the economies were being opened up, he was looking forward to the implementation of the project fornuclear center technology which was supposed to be implemented in Zambia.“Our bilateral engagements have been disturbed. So I hope in September we will be able to hear some concrete steps from theRussian government how this project is going to proceed,” he said.Rosatom, Russia’s state nuclear agency, and the Zambian government signed a contract in May 2018 for the construction of aCentre for Nuclear Science and Technology (CNST) in the African country.A similar agreement was concluded with the Rwandan government for the establishment of a CNST, and Rosatom has alsoconcluded multiple cooperation deals with other African nations.CNSTs consist of a research reactor and laboratory complex, and may also include an irradiation center and facilities for thestudy of nuclear medicine. The Sun