Category Archives: Topics

Dissolution of the Technical Secretariat of Japan-Belarus Committee on Cooperation for the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons

March 3, 2015

Due to the termination of the Agreement between the Government of Japan and the Government of the Republic of Belarus concerning Cooperation in the field of Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the Establishment of a Committee on this Cooperation done on 5 November 1993, the Technical Secretariat of Japan-Belarus Committee on Cooperation for the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons has winded up its activities and dissolved.

Taking this opportunity, we would like to extend our sincere appreciation to our partners for their continued cooperation and support during the mandate of the Japan-Belarus Committee.

At the same time, please be advised that the Technical Secretariats of other Committees (Japan-Russia, Japan-Ukraine and Japan-Kazakhstan) will continue its work based on the bilateral agreement with each country.

Inauguration of the Blast and Paint Facility for Reactor Compartment Units of the Dismantled Nuclear Submarines in the Russian Far East

July 8, 2014

  1. The opening ceremony of the Blast and Paint Facility was held at the Long-Term Storage Complex for reactor compartment units, located in Razboynik Bay, Primorsky Territory in the Russian Far East on 24 June, 2014. The Government of Japan provided financial assistance amounting to 726 million Japanese yen (approx 8.4 million USD) for the construction of this Facility.
  2. In Razboynik Bay, over 50 reactor units are still under the waterborne storage. The State Corporation Rosatom plans to place all the units onshore by 2020 with their hull surface blasted and painted against corrosion. The commissioned Facility is necessary to complete a technological cycle of safe onshore storage of reactor compartments, and is expected to ensure the full operation of the Long-Term Storage Complex together with the equipment the Japanese Government already provided to Russia in 2012.

(For Background) “Signing Ceremony of the Project to Construct of the Blast and Paint Facility for Reactor Compartment Units in the Russian Far East” (March 13, 2013)

(Ceremony)

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Remarks of delegations Ribbon-cutting Unveiling the plaque
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Blast and paint facility 1st reactor unit to be shot-blasted Reactor units on the storage pad

The Completion Ceremony for Nuclear Security Project at the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Republic of Kazakhstan

June 19, 2013

  1. The Completion Ceremony of the Japan-Kazakhstan Joint Project for Nuclear Security at the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Republic of Kazakhstan was held at the Institute in Almaty on 28 May, 2013 with the attendance of the representatives of the Japan-Kazakhstan Committee on Cooperation for the Destruction of Nuclear Weapons Reduced in the Republic of Kazakhstan : Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Kazakhstan H.E. Mr. Yuzo Harada and Chairman of the Atomic Energy Committee of the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies of the Republic of Kazakhstan Dr. Timur Zhantikin and other distinguished guests from both Japan and Kazakhstan.

  2. The Project worth 89 million JPY (approx. 1.1 million USD) was implemented for strengthening of nuclear security of the Institute, based on the Implementing Arrangement agreed between the Japan-Kazakhstan Committee and the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies of the Republic of Kazakhstan in November 2011.

  3. The Project was also referred to in the National Progress Reports of both countries at the Seoul Nuclear Security Summit held in March, 2012, and it is expected to contribute toward further strengthening of nuclear security in Kazakhstan, together with the similar project for the Ulba Metallurgical Plant.

  4. At the Ceremony, the Japanese assistance was repeatedly appreciated by the representatives of Kazakhstan. The Japanese representatives also expressed their strong expectation that this Project will make a great contribution not only to enhance nuclear security in Kazakhstan, but also to strengthen closer bilateral relationship between Japan and Kazakhstan.
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Completion Ceremony

Signing Ceremony of the Project to Construct the Blast and Paint Facility for Reactor Compartment Units in the Russian Far East

March 13, 2013

  1. The signing ceremony of the Japan-funded Project “Construction of the Blast and Paint Facility for Reactor Compartment Units of the Dismantled Nuclear Submarines at the Long-term Storage Facility in the Far East of the Russian Federation” was held on 22 February, 2013 in Moscow with the attendance of the government officials.
  2. During the ceremony, Secretary-General of the Technical Secretariat of the Committee on Cooperation to Assist the Destruction of Nuclear Weapons Reduced in the Russian Federation, Hajime Sasaki and the Acting Director General of the FSUE “RosRAO”, Timur Koptev signed the Financing Contract for the implementation of the Project, worth 734 million JPY (approx. 8.5 million USD).
  3. The Blast and Paint Facility, an integral part of the Long-term Storage Facility for Reactor Compartments Units (RCUs) of the dismantled nuclear submarines at Razboynik Bay, will be utilized for final preparation of the RCUs for long-term onshore storage, including shot blasting and anticorrosion coating of hull surface of the RCUs.
  4. The Project is expected to strengthen the safety of reactor compartments as well as ensure the full operation of the Long-term Storage Facility in combination with the floating dock, jib cranes and tug boat provided by the Government of Japan last year.

[Related]
For the provision of the equipment – see here.

(Ceremony)
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(Facility image) *The similar facility in the North West of Russia
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The Completion and Handover Ceremony of the Floating Dock, Jib Cranes and the Tug Boat to the Long-Term Storage Facility for the Reactor Compartment Units

May 30, 2012

  1. The Completion and Handover Ceremony of a Floating Dock, two Jib Cranes and a Tug Boat which were provided to the Long-Term Storage Facility for the Reactor Compartment Units by the Committee on Cooperation to Assist the Destruction of Nuclear Weapons Reduced in the Russian Federation was held at Razboynik Bay in the Primorsky Region of the Russian Federation on May 18, 2012. The total cost of the Project was approximately 4.5 billion yen (about 56 million US Dollars). Representative of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the State Atomic Energy Corporation “Rosatom”, the Primorsky Region Administration and other dignitaries attended the Ceremony.

  2. In the Russian Far East, 73 Reactor Compartments (RCs) of Dismantled Nuclear Submarines are currently at the waterborne storage at Razboynik Bay and Kamchatka Peninsula, and these RCs are planned to be transferred onto land for their safe and stable storage. The Long-Term Storage Facility for the RCs is currently under construction by the Russian Government, and the above Floating Dock, Jib Cranes and the Tug Boat will be utilized for the operation of the Facility.

  3. At the Ceremony, the Russian representatives highly appreciated the Japanese continuous assistance providing essential equipment to the Facility despite of the difficult situations after the Great East Japan Earthquake. The Japanese representative expressed his strong expectation that this Project will make a great contribution to the strengthening of nuclear security in the Russian Far East and the protection of environment in the Sea of Japan. At the same time, the hope for its eventual contribution to building a constructive relationship between Japan and Russia as an important partner in the Asian Pacific Region was also emphasized.
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Floating Dock “SAKURA” 32t and 10t Jib Cranes Tug Boat “SUMIRE”

IAEA Nuclear Security Training Course Held in Kazakhstan

May 8, 2012

  1. The IAEA nuclear security training course funded by the Government of Japan was held in Almaty, the Republic of Kazakhstan from 16 through 20 April, 2012. Through the course, Kazakhstani participants deepened their understanding on the modern methodologies and international experiences in nuclear security. The course program was developed based on the latest IAEA security recommendations and tailored to the specific needs of Kazakhstan.

  2. In November 2011, the Japan-Kazakhstan Committee on Cooperation for the Destruction of Nuclear Weapons Reduced in the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies of the Republic of Kazakhstan signed the Implementing Arrangement concerning the Upgrade of Nuclear Security in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Under this Arrangement, the Committee contributed approx. 74 thousand euro to the IAEA’s Nuclear Security Fund for the implementation of the above national training course on the physical protection of nuclear material and facilities in Kazakhstan.

  3. The importance of our cooperation was emphasized in the National Statement of Japan at the Seoul Nuclear Security Summit in March 2012. It is our sincere hope that this training will strengthen the proficiency of experts in Kazakhstan and ensure the robust security measures against malicious acts involving nuclear material and its associated facilities.

 

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Signing Ceremony for Nuclear Security Projects in Kazakhstan

28 February 2012

  1. The signing ceremony on nuclear security projects of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which are funded by the Government of Japan, was held on 21 February, 2012 in Astana, under attendance of the Vice Minister for Industry and New Technologies of the Republic of Kazakhstan Mr. B. Dzhaksaliev and two representatives of the Japan-Kazakhstan Committee on Cooperation for the Destruction of Nuclear Weapons Reduced in the Republic of Kazakhstan: Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Kazakhstan H.E. Mr. Y. Harada and Chairman of the Atomic Energy Committee Dr. T. Zhantikin.

  2. At the ceremony Secretary-General of Japan-Kazakhstan Committee H. Sasaki signed the Financing contracts for strengthening the nuclear security system of the Ulba Metallurgical Plant and the Institute of Nuclear Physics, worth 337 million JPY (approx 4.3 million USD) and 89 million JPY (approx 1.1 million USD) respectively.

  3. In November 2011, the Japan-Kazakhstan Committee on Cooperation for the Destruction of Nuclear Weapons Reduced in the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies of the Republic of Kazakhstan signed the Implementing Arrangement on this cooperation, and in the following month the Committee and the International Atomic Energy Agency also agreed to jointly implement the physical protection training course in Kazakhstan.

  4. This cooperation was already emphasized in the Japan’s National Statement at the first Nuclear Security Summit held in April, 2010 in Washington, and is expected to not only further strengthen the security measures in Kazakhstan but also contribute to the global efforts to prevent nuclear terrorism.

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Completion Ceremony of the Japan-Belarus Joint Project “Modernization of the System to Deter the Illicit Trafficking of Nuclear and Radioactive Materials at State Borders of the Republic of Belarus”

October 20, 2011

  1. The completion ceremony of Japan-Belarus Joint Project “Modernization of the System to Deter the Illicit Trafficking of Nuclear and Radioactive Materials at State Borders of the Republic of Belarus” was held in Minsk on 29 August, 2011, with the attendance of the representatives of the Japan-Belarus Committee on Cooperation for the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the State Border Guard Committee of the Republic of Belarus, the European Commission, the International Atomic Energy Agency and the leading radiation equipment manufacturers.

  2. During the ceremony and subsequent visit to the border areas, whole response process for radiation incidents utilizing the newly-established geo-informational radiation monitoring system was demonstrated to the participants and the media.
    It was also reported that more than 1600 people had been examined for the presence of radionuclide in their bodies with the mobile radiometric laboratory since its deployment to the Pinsk Border Guard Department in April this year.

  3. The swift implementation of the Project was highly appreciated by the Belarusian Government as well as other international bodies, all of which echoed the importance of synergy effect of various cooperation projects in combating illicit trafficking of nuclear and radioactive materials in the region.
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Completion ceremony Geo-informational radiation monitoring system
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Introduction of the mobile laboratories provided under the Project Search of the radiation source in the vehicle which triggered alarm
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Radiation portal monitors
at border checkpoints		 Search of the radiation source in the vehicle which triggered alarm
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Hand-held detector with pocket PC type radionuclide identifier provided under the Project Radiation incident response point established under the Project
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Logo of Japan-Belarus cooperation Interviews with local media

 

Handover of the Mobile Laboratories and Opening of the Specialized Classroom for Radiation Security under Japan-Belarus Joint Project “Modernization of the System to Deter the Illicit Trafficking of Nuclear and Radioactive Materials at State Borders of the Republic of Belarus”

May 24, 2011

  1. On 25 April, 2011, the official handover ceremony on Japan-Belarus Project “Modernization of the System to Deter the Illicit Trafficking of Nuclear and Radioactive Materials at State Borders of the Republic of Belarus” was held at the Border Guard Institute in Minsk, capital of Belarus.

  2. During the ceremony, four mobile laboratories and a specialized classroom for radiation security, established under the Project, were introduced to the Japanese delegation and the press.

  3. After the ceremony, the mobile laboratories were immediately relocated to their duty stations including Pinsk and Gomel Border Guard Departments near the Chernobyl-affected areas to respond to illicit trafficking of nuclear and radioactive materials and ensure radiation safety of the border guard staff and local population. The whole Project is expected to be completed in July.
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Four mobile laboratories and their crew Speeches by the government officials
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Ribbon cutting by the government officials Press interview
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Specialized class room for radiation security in the Border Guard Institute Radiation detectors and communication devices for response to radiological incidents at state borders (mobile operational response laboratory)
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Measurement of incorporated radionuclides of the border guard personal with the whole body counter (mobile radiometric laboratory) Analysis of food samples with the gamma radioactivity monitor (mobile radiometric laboratory)