Research Institute: Cooperation with the IAEA is based on trust and the peaceful use of nuclear technology
Kuwait City, Sept 18 (KUNA) -- Dr. Habiba Al-Muneim, the National Liaison Officer with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), affirmed that “the cooperation between the State of Kuwait and the Agency represents a long-standing and solid partnership based on reliability and continuity in the peaceful uses of nuclear technology.”
Speaking to KUNA following the conclusion of the Agency’s 70th General Conference, which opened last Monday in the Austrian capital Vienna and ended on Friday, Al-Muneim stated that the continued cooperation and the achievements realized in nuclear and isotopic technologies reflect the strength of international efforts to promote peace, security, and sustainable progress.
She added that bilateral cooperation during the period from September 1, 2025, to August 31, 2026, achieved significant milestones that contributed to enhancing national capacities, transferring modern technologies, and supporting vital developmental sectors. She clarified that the Institute plays a pivotal role in monitoring technical cooperation programs and directing them toward national priorities in coordination with beneficiary entities.
She noted that among the notable achievements of the past year was the signing of the National Program Framework for the State of Kuwait for the period (2026–2035). This framework serves as the strategic reference for technical cooperation over the next decade and identifies areas through which nuclear science and technology can be leveraged to support sustainable development plans as a cornerstone for capacity building and technology transfer.
Al-Muneim highlighted that cooperation with the IAEA’s Technical Cooperation Department for Asia and the Pacific saw the approval of five national projects under the 2026–2027 programming cycle. These projects include treating cancer diseases by improving tumor targeting and studying groundwater layers to identify major pollution sources using stable isotope techniques.
She explained that the projects also encompass improving food safety by identifying chemical and microbiological contaminants in milk, studying the impact of coke agglomeration on the performance of a circulating fluidized bed reactor using nuclear techniques, establishing a national laboratory for neutron activation analysis, and extending two projects on mutation breeding for feed production and cancer treatment.
She noted that this year was distinguished by the commencement of strategy implementation and the active participation of Kuwaiti personnel in regional and international projects and training programs. She pointed out that the total budget allocated to Kuwait for projects under the technical cooperation program for the years 2026–2027 amounts to approximately 600,000 euros.
She emphasized the appreciation expressed by the Technical Cooperation Department for the Institute’s role at the regional level and its training partnerships, reaffirming the Institute’s readiness to provide the necessary resources to implement projects linked to the Technical Cooperation Department.
Al-Muneim noted that Kuwait hosts four regional service and cooperation centers with the Agency in the fields of medicine, marine environment, radiation protection, and a radioactivity measurement laboratory, owing to its expertise and advanced equipment that support the Agency’s research programs.
She added that the Kuwaiti delegation met with the Technical Cooperation Department, attended by Mr. Bashar Al-Duwaisan, Deputy Ambassador of Kuwait to Austria, and Mr. Khaled Al-Dikan from the Kuwait Embassy in Vienna. They commended the efforts to facilitate the completion of national projects. The delegation also participated in the ARASIA (Asia and the Pacific Regional Association for Research, Development and Training in the Nuclear Field) meeting, to which Kuwait acceded in 2016.
She stated that Kuwait completed the implementation of eight regional projects under ARASIA in December 2025 in environmental, agricultural, and health fields, and launched five new projects while participating in coordination for the upcoming cycle, during which four project chairs were selected for the next programming cycle.
She confirmed that the Integrated Nuclear Security Support Plan was reviewed in the presence of relevant authorities, resulting in the preparation of a “Nuclear Risk Matrix” as part of a risk assessment project for potential threats to the country, completed in December 2025.
Al-Muneim explained that the delegation met with officials from the Nuclear Security and Safety Department to develop the capacities of staff in national institutions, including the General Customs Authority, the Ministry of Interior, the General Directorate of Civil Defense, and the Ministry of Health (Radiation Protection Department). This was achieved through training courses for frontline personnel on handling radiation incidents and using advanced detection devices.
She noted the continuation of cooperation based on the National Integrated Nuclear Security Plan as a mechanism to enhance institutional capacities in monitoring radioactive sources, combating illicit trafficking, and border surveillance. She added that the delegation also discussed future cooperation avenues with the Agency’s Incident and Trafficking Database (ITDB) Department.
Al-Muneim affirmed Kuwait’s continuation of fruitful cooperation through the technical cooperation program as a capacity-building mechanism. She commended the efforts of Kuwait’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the International Organizations in Vienna, Fawaz Al-Bursali, Deputy Ambassador Bashar Al-Duwaisan, and embassy staff in strengthening cooperation with the Agency and facilitating the Kuwaiti delegation’s tasks. (End) A.Y.S./T.A.B.
