Zambia has signed three contracts with the Russian government to oversee the pilot phase of the construction of a Centre for Nuclear Science and Technology in the country, among other projects.

And Zambia has signed another agreement with Russia on the execution of feasibility studies of the nuclear power plant to be built in Zambia.

At one of the signing ceremonies held on the sidelines of the ongoing Atom Expo in Russia yesterday, Higher Education Ministry Permanent Secretary Owen Mugemezulu signed a contract for the construction of the nuclear centre in Zambia with Rusatom Overseas president Evgeny Pakermanov.

At the same event, Mugemezulu also; on behalf of government, signed a different agreement with Russia’s Joint Stock Company ‘Rusatom Service’ president Evgeny Salkov for assessment and development of nuclear infrastructure in Zambia and another one for the preliminary site survey for the Center of Nuclear Science and Technology in Zambia which he signed with Russia’s Joint Stock Company ASE Engineering Company president Valeriy Limarenko.

In accordance with this agreement, ASE Engineering Company will soon start field works on the prospective site in order to acquire data for design and construction of the facility.

And Ministry of Energy Permanent Secretary Emelda Chola also signed an agreement with Pakermanov for the execution of pre-feasibility and feasibility studies of the nuclear power plant to be constructed in Zambia.

During the signing ceremony, Pakermanov said his government was ready to assist Zambia develop its nuclear science and technology sector.

“Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation is ready to render maximum assistance to our Zambian partners in the development of their national nuclear science and technology sector. The agreements signed today represent a very important step in the implementation of the project. We expect that the general contract for construction of the Centre for Nuclear Science and Technology will be agreed upon and signed before the end of 2017,” said Pakermanov.

Secretary to the Cabinet Dr Rowland Msiska is leading the Zambian delegation at the 2017 AtomExpo in Russia and Attorney General Likando Kalaluka is one of those in attendance.

AtomExpo is a major exhibition and business platform for conducting meetings and negotiations between the worldwide leaders of the nuclear power industry.

The purpose of the Forum is to provide the leaders of nuclear power industry and nuclear power engineering with an opportunity to publicly define the place and role of nuclear generation in the 21st century energy balance, analyze the main challenges, issues and scenarios of development of the energy market worldwide.

The expo is attended by representatives from 168 countries this year.