Austrian experts to help Rwanda meet global legal framework for nuclear energy goals

A few days back, a news created headlines that Rwanda was planning to create a Centre for Nuclear Science and Technology in the next five years. The country is already in talks with Russia’s State Atomic Energy Corporation to set up the centre soon.

Now Rwanda is trying to engage in more activities to ensure nuclear safety, security, and civil liability for nuclear damage. Two legal experts from the Austria’s Vienna-headquartered International Atomic Energy Agency are currently in Rwanda for a three-day mission to train Rwandan officials about the international legal framework.

The training is being conducted in Rwanda’s capital, Kigali from Monday, May 6 this week and around 25 Rwandan officials and experts from various institutions in the country have attended the sessions. In 2017, Rwanda adopted its national legal framework by enacting a law on the use of nuclear energy and has since moved to raise awareness about the use of nuclear technologies, as reported by The New Times.

The objective of this ongoing workshop is to bring more awareness among many experts from several ministries and other government institutions on the significance of understanding and adhering to international legal instruments in the areas of nuclear safety, security and civil liability for nuclear damage. Rwandans need a lot of support in the area of nuclear technology as the country recently moved to adopt and develop its use, Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority’s Director-General, Patrick Nyirishema said.

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