Recent news from the DRC highlights the country’s participation in the 67th Session of the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The Minister of Scientific Research and Technological Innovation, Gilbert Kabanda, presented the summary report of this meeting which was held in Vienna, Austria.
In his intervention during the meeting of the Council of Ministers, Gilbert Kabanda underlined the importance of the subjects discussed during this session. Among them, we find the signing of the National Framework Program 2023-2028 for cooperation between the IAEA and the DRC, the restart of the Kinshasa nuclear reactor, the construction of a Diagnostic, Multidisciplinary and Radiotherapy Center for the fight against cancers, as well as biotechnology for health and food safety.
The DRC is positioned as one of the first countries in black Africa to have a research reactor. Its atomic reactor, installed at the Kinshasa Regional Center for Nuclear Studies (CREN-K), plays an important role in protecting the population, the environment and workers against the dangers of ionizing radiation.
With this in mind, President Félix Tshisekedi recently requested an update of the decree relating to the organization and operation of the CREN-K, in order to revitalize this establishment and face the security challenges facing the DRC.
The article also highlights the DRC’s accession to the Regional Cooperation Agreement for Africa on Research, Development and Training in the field of Nuclear Sciences and Technology (AFRA). This membership demonstrates the country’s commitment to promoting scientific research and technological innovation in the nuclear field.
In conclusion, this participation of the DRC in the IAEA General Conference demonstrates the country’s interest in the development of scientific research and technological innovation. Cooperation with the IAEA, as well as the modernization of CREN-K, will allow the DRC to strengthen its expertise in the nuclear field and contribute to the protection of the population and the environment.