April 24, 2024

　As part of the Japan-Kazakhstan Cooperation for the Destruction of Nuclear Weapons Reduced in the Republic of Kazakhstan, a total of seven Kazakhstan officials, led by Mr.Sergazin, Director of the Department of Atomic Energy and Industry, Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, were invited to Japan, where they stayed from April 1 to April 5, 2024.

　Within the framework of the “Agreement between the Government of Japan and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan concerning Cooperation for the Destruction of Nuclear Weapons Reduced in the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Establishment of a Committee on this Cooperation” signed in 1994, approximately 1.8 billion yen had been provided. Over 30 years, various projects have been carried out successfully, among others, for assisting the establishment of the State System of Accounting and Control (SSAC), providing equipment for reducing radioactive contamination in the vicinity of the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site and also equipment for strengthening nuclear security in Kazakhstan. The Agreement will expire in August this year, and this visit was realized as the last cooperation project under the Agreement.

　During their visit to Japan, the Kazakh delegation paid a courtesy call on the Parliamentary Vice Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and exchanged views with officials of relevant departments of the MOFA. The delegation also visited the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA), the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), the Integrated Support Center for Nuclear Nonproliferation and Nuclear Security (ISCN, a subsidiary of JAEA), and exchanged views and information with their officials.

　Through a series of meetings and discussions, the Japanese side (MOFA, METI, NRA and JAEA/ISCN) welcomed the Kazakh delegation and expressed their appreciation for the successful completion of the denuclearization-related cooperation projects.

　In response, Mr. Sergazin expressed his gratitude, on behalf of the Kazakh delegation, for Japan’s cooperation with Kazakhstan in relation to the elimination of nuclear weapons. He also stated that the visit to Japan was very productive and mentioned the possibility of future cooperation between Japan and Kazakhstan in the field of nuclear energy.

October 31, 2017

A third-party evaluation was conducted from April to October 2017 to assess the results of the Nuclear Security Project at the Ulba Metallurgical Plant (UMP) of the Republic of Kazakhstan (*completed in February 2015 with 337 million JPY disbursed).

In June, two experts from the Center of the Promotion of Disarmament and Non-Proliferation (Tokyo), which is entrusted with the task of evaluation, visited the UMP in Ust-Kamenogorsk for inspection of the facility, as well as discussed the performance of the project with the Committee on Atomic and Energy Supervision and Control of the Ministry of Energy and National Atomic Company “Kazatomprom” in Astana.

 The evaluator made a comprehensive analysis of the project, including operational conditions of the physical protection system, improvement of the staff’s competence through training courses, impact and synergy of the project, and sustainable efforts being made by the facility for strengthening nuclear security. The findings of the evaluator were compiled into a report and presented to the Japan-Kazakhstan Committee with recommendations and lessons learnt for the future activities.

(FYI) Projects for Strengthening Nuclear Security in Kazakhstan (2011-2015)

April 22, 2016

Ex-post project evaluation was implemented from November 2015 to March 2016 to assess the results of the Nuclear Security Project at the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Republic of Kazakhstan (*completed in February 2013 with 89 million JPY spent).

In December last year, the Nuclear Material Control Center of Japan, entrusted with conducting the evaluation, dispatched two experts to Kazakhstan for on-site observation of the facility and for consultations with the representatives of the Institute and the regulatory authorities.

The mission assessed the results of the project in a comprehensive manner; the evaluation criteria include, among others, improvement of the security hardware, development of the staff’s competence through the training course, and other sustainable efforts being made by the Institute for further strengthening nuclear security. The findings of the mission were presented to the Japan-Kazakhstan Committee with relevant recommendations and lessons learnt for the future joint activities.

(FYI) “The Completion Ceremony for Nuclear Security Project at the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Republic of Kazakhstan” (June 19, 2013)

May 7, 2015

The completion ceremony of the Japan-Kazakhstan joint project for strengthening nuclear security (worth 432 million Japanese yen) was held on April 30, 2015 in the Ministry of Energy of the Repuplic of Kazakhstan, Astana city, with the attendance of government officials of the both countries.

Kazakhstani First Vice-Minister for Energy U. KARABALIN expressed appreciation for the assistance extended by Japan in times of growing global terrorism, and added that assurance of nuclear security would help Kazakhstan to improve the credibility of its nuclear industry. Then, Japanese Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs K. SONOURA pointed out the importance of continued concerted efforts between Japan and Kazakhstan in the sphere of nuclear security, noting that the both states co-chair the Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the CTBT as the countries suffering either nuclear tests or atomic bombings.

The joint project was implemented based on the Implementing Arrangement signed in November 2011 between 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 (later reorganized into the Ministry of Energy). The whole range of works done under this project has allowed the Ulba Metallurgical Plant and the Institute of Nuclear Physics to maintain the robust physical barriers as well as effectively detect potential intruder threats; concrete fences, alarm sensors, video surveillance and communication systems have been upgraded. In addition to that, training was provided for the facility staff in collaboration with the IAEA.

June 19, 2013

Completion Ceremony

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.

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.