The IAEA helps Member States build their disused sealed radioactive sources (DSRS) management capacity through technological transfer and staff training. Following a request from the Cypriot government, an IAEA expert mission was carried out in November 2017 under the framework of an ongoing regional technical cooperation project[1].
The mission’s focus was updating the national DSRS inventory, including characterizing and categorizing all DSRS and identifying feasible options for managing existing low and high activity DSRS in Cyprus. A technical officer from the IAEA and a Slovenian expert participated in this mission, coordinated by the Cypriot Department of Labour Inspection’s Radiation Inspection and Control Service (RICS).
“With the IAEA’s support Cyprus has taken very significant steps towards strengthening its control over disused sealed radioactive sources” said IAEA technical officer Juan Carlos Benitez Navarro. “With the recently updated national DSRS registry and a clear definition on feasible options for managing existing low and high activity DSRS, Cyprus is ready to implement a comprehensive action plan to address the challenges identified over the course of the mission”.
Some devices containing DSRS were dismantled and the radioactive sources were removed, characterized, and safely stored. The IAEA mission team and the RICS met with planning officers from the government’s Department of Town Planning and Housing to discuss site selection criteria for national DSRS storage and disposal facilities.
“We are grateful for the IAEA’s support in safely managing our disused sealed radioactive sources,” said RICS Director Anastasios Yiannaki. “The expert mission provided a sound foundation for Cyprus’ implementation of the comprehensive action plan and for future cooperation with the IAEA.”
[1] RER0041 “Supporting Overall Programme Management and Sustainability”
Νοte: Text and picture from the website of the IAEA .