In the period from March 20 to 31, 2023, the Joint Eighth and Ninth Review Meeting on the Review of the Convention on Nuclear Safety was held at the IAEA

In the period from March 20 to 31, 2023, the Joint Eighth and Ninth Review Meeting on the Review of the Convention on Nuclear Safety was held at the IAEA

Strengthening national regulatory capacity taking into account the safety aspects of new and innovative technologies, promoting international cooperation and expert missions, as well as strengthening emergency preparedness and response mechanisms were identified as common priorities at the Joint Eighth and Ninth Review Meetings of the Convention on Nuclear Safety, which successfully concluded on March 31, 2023 in Vienna (Republic of Austria). The meeting was attended by more than 900 delegates representing 82 Contracting Parties, who exchanged experiences and lessons learned in the field of achieving and maintaining a high level of nuclear safety worldwide.

For reference. Normally held every three years, the previous review meeting scheduled for 2020 was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, making it the Joint eighth and ninth Review Meeting of the Convention.

The delegation of the Republic of Kazakhstan at the above–mentioned event at the International Atomic Energy Agency (hereinafter - the IAEA) was represented by the Director of the Department of Atomic Energy and Industry of the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, represented by Sergazin Gumar Ekpinovich, and the Head of the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Department of the Atomic and Energy Supervision and Control Committee of the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, represented by Kabiev Musa Bulatuly, as well as employees Permanent Mission of the Republic of Kazakhstan to International Organizations in Vienna.

On the first day, during the greeting of all members of the Contracting Parties, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi focused on the relevance of the Convention not only for countries with an existing nuclear energy program, but also for any country considering the possibility of developing a nuclear energy program. In his opening remarks, R.M. Grossi said that as more and more Governments use nuclear energy to solve problems of both energy security and the crisis related to climate change, it is extremely important that they are committed to compliance with the provisions of the Convention.

During the Meeting, the participants discussed and agreed on other areas of nuclear safety. These include the importance of developing strategies for the long-term operation of nuclear installations, approaches to solving the problem of climate change and its impact on the safe operation of nuclear installations, developing a safety culture, as well as responding to nuclear and radiation accidents.

Representatives of the Republic of Kazakhstan noted achievements in fulfilling obligations, improving the regulatory framework, converting research reactors, developing nuclear infrastructure, as well as in preparing for the IAEA Follow-Up INIR mission.

In agreement with the Contracting Parties, the next Tenth Review Meeting of the Convention will be held from 13 to 24 April 2026. It was noted that the interval between this Meeting and the Tenth Meeting exceeded three years, and the Contracting Parties agreed that this should not create a precedent for future Meetings to review the Convention.

The Republic of Kazakhstan expresses special gratitude to Ms. Dana Drabova, Chair of the meeting, and the IAEA for holding such an important event, recognizing the diligent efforts of officials, staff and Contracting Parties aimed at supporting successful and productive peer review in each group of countries.