Category Archives: Topics

Dissolution of the Technical Secretariat on Cooperation for the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons Reduced in the Former Soviet Union

August 28, 2024

 

The Committee on Cooperation for the Destruction of Nuclear Weapons Reduced in the Republic of Kazakhstan (Japan-Kazakhstan Committee) will be dissolved on August 29 of this year, following the Committee on Cooperation for the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (Japan-Belarus Committee) (closed on January 24, 2015), the Committee on Cooperation for the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons Reduced in Ukraine (Japan-Ukraine Committee)(closed on July 15, 2018), and the Committee on Cooperation to Assist the Destruction of Nuclear Weapons Reduced in the Russian Federation (Japan-Russia Committee) (closed on May 21, 2024).

With the dissolution of the all Committees between Japan and four countries, Technical Secretariat on Cooperation for the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons Reduced in the Former Soviet Union (the collective name for the above four committees) will also be dissolved.

Dissolution of the Technical Secretariat of Japan- Kazakhstan Committee on Cooperation for the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons Reduced in Kazakhstan

August 28, 2024

 

Due to the termination 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” done on and took effect on March 11, 1994, the Technical Secretariat of Japan-Kazakhstan Committee on Cooperation for the Destruction of Nuclear Weapons Reduced in Kazakhstan has winded up its activities and dissolved.

Taking this opportunity, we would like to extend our sincere appreciation to our partners for their continued cooperation and support during the mandate of the Japan-Kazakhstan Committee.

Dissolution of the Technical Secretariat of Japan-Russia Committee on Cooperation for the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons Reduced in Russian Federation

August 9, 2024

 

Due to the termination of the “Agreement between the Government of Japan and the Government of the Russian Federation concerning Cooperation to Assist the Destruction of Nuclear Reduced in the Russian Federation and the Establishment of a Committee on this Cooperation” done on and took effect on October 13, 1993, the Technical Secretariat of Japan-Russia Committee on Cooperation for the Destruction of Nuclear Weapons Reduced in Russian Federation has winded up its activities and dissolved.

Taking this opportunity, we would like to extend our sincere appreciation to our partners for their continued cooperation and support during the mandate of the Japan-Russia Committee.

Invitation Program of Officials from Kazakhstan to Japan

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.

Signing Ceremony of Financing Contract for the Cooperation on the Construction of the Regional Center for Conditioning and Long-term Storage of Radioactive Wastes in Primorsky Region, Russia

October 11, 2019

  1. On October 1, 2019, the signing ceremony for the Cooperation on the Construction of the Regional Center for Conditioning and Long-term Storage of Radioactive Wastes in Primorsky Region (hereinafter referred to “the Regional Center”) was held in Moscow, Russia. The project will be completed by the end of 2021. Mr. Tsutomu Arai, Secretary-General of the Technical Secretariat of the Committee on Cooperation to Assist the Destruction of Nuclear Weapons Reduced in the Russian Federation, signed a Financing Contract (The amount is up to 1.86 billion yen) for the Project with Mr. Vladimir Luzin, Director General of “RosRAO”.

  Footnote: In July 2019, the Japan-Russia Committee on Cooperation in the Denuclearization of the Russian Federation and the State Atomiс Energy Corporation “RosATOM” concluded an Implementing Arrangement for this project. The Cooperation Project actually starts with the signing of this Financing Contract, based on the Implementing Arrangement.

  1. The Government of Russian Federation has been proceeding the construction of the Regional Center as a national policy with the purpose of conditioning and long-term storage of radioactive wastes accumulated in Russian Far East.  Based on the Financing Contract, Japan will provide funds through the Technical Secretariat to cover the cost of design and production of part of equipment and materials, including a combustion system, to be used for the conditioning and safe storage of intermediate level radioactive wastes.
  2. Until today, the Government of Japan had implemented a series of cooperation in Primorsky Region, the Far East of Russia in such a domain as  Program for Dismantling Decommissioned Nuclear Submarines, named “Star of Hope”, Construction of a Long-Term Storage Facility for the Reactor Compartment Units of Dismantled Nuclear Submarines and Assistance in Constructing a Blast and Paint Facility.  This cooperation project, therefore, will also contribute to the environment protection of the Sea of Japan by achieving safe management of radioactive wastes accumulated in Russian Far East. The construction project of the Regional Center is aimed at conditioning and long-term storage of radioactive wastes, most of which have been generated by dismantling Nuclear Submarines and thus for future transfer to the “National Operator” in a safe manner suitable for final disposal.

(Ceremony)

CIMG1946 CIMG1951 IMG_0720 (002)

Dissolution of the Technical Secretariat of Japan-Ukraine Committee on Cooperation for the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons Reduced in Ukraine

September 4, 2018

 

Due to the termination of the Agreement between the Government of Japan and the Government of Ukraine concerning Cooperation for the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons Reduced in Ukraine and the Establishment of a Committee on this Cooperation done on 2 March 1994(took effect on March 11, 1994), the Technical Secretariat of Japan-Ukraine Committee on Cooperation for the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons Reduced in Ukraine has winded up its activities and dissolved.

Taking this opportunity, we would like to extend our sincere appreciation to our partners for their continued cooperation and support during the mandate of the Japan-Ukraine Committee.

At the same time, please be advised that the Technical Secretariats of other two Committees (Japan-Russia, Japan-Kazakhstan) will continue its work based on the bilateral agreement with each country.

Ex-post Evaluation on the Nuclear Security Project at the Ulba Metallurgical Plant of the Republic of Kazakhstan

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)

Ex-post Evaluation on the Nuclear Security Project at the Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technologies in Ukraine

October 31, 2017

A third-party evaluation was implemented from January through July 2017 to assess the results of the Nuclear Security Project at the Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technologies in Ukraine (*completed in December 2014 with 173 million JPY disbursed).

In April, three experts of “p2 company co., ltd”, entrusted with the task of evaluation, visited the Kharkiv Institute as well as discussed the results of the project with the representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, State Nuclear Inspectorate, Science and Technology Center in Ukraine and Kyiv Institute for Nuclear Research.

 The evaluator assessed the project in terms of operational conditions of the mass-spectrometry system and perimeter protection system provided under the project, coordination and synergy with other Donors’ activities, and maintenance plan and conditions. The findings of the evaluator were compiled into a report and presented to the Japan-Ukraine Committee with recommendations and lessons learnt for the future activities.

(FYI) “Completion Ceremony of the Japan-Ukraine Joint Project for Strengthening Nuclear Security of the Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technologies” (June, 2015)