Kuwait city: The State of Kuwait and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have finalized three agreements during the 69th IAEA annual conference, as announced by the Director General of the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR).
According to Kuwait News Agency, Dr. Faisal Al-Humaidan stated that some of the signed agreements have a duration of up to 10 years. Kuwait will continue executing nine existing joint projects and eight ongoing regional projects with the IAEA. The newly signed agreements include the Fourth Technical Cooperation Framework Plan (2026-2035), designating KISR as a cooperation center for radiation monitoring until 2028, and re-designating KISR as a cooperation center for combating marine pollution until 2028.
Dr. Al-Humaidan highlighted that the IAEA's technical cooperation program officials in Asia and the Pacific have expressed appreciation for KISR's regional cooperation. He confirmed the approval of five new projects for 2026-2027, addressing areas such as reactor performance, food safety, and cancer treatment, with a budget of approximately 600,000 euros. Kuwait hosts three regional service and cooperation centers with the IAEA in medicine, marine environment, and radiation protection.
The Environment and Life Sciences Research Center at KISR has been re-designated to monitor marine radioactive pollution from 2025 to 2028, and the Radiation Measurement Laboratory was designated as a regional resource center within the Arab States in Western Asia group. This brings the total number of Kuwaiti centers cooperating with the IAEA to four.
Al-Humaidan emphasized the importance of the IAEA's national technical cooperation program for building national capacities and transferring peaceful nuclear technologies. The current national program encompasses five projects and four new projects initiated in January 2025, focusing on improved crops, groundwater aquifers, cancer treatment, and monitoring marine pollution.
He mentioned Kuwait's involvement in eight regional projects under the Arab States in Asia Cooperation Agreement for 2024-2025, addressing environmental, agricultural, and health fields. Kuwait has also proposed establishing a regional seed bank to combat climate change effects.
Al-Humaidan noted meetings with the IAEA's Safeguards Department reaffirmed Kuwait's commitment to submitting reports on the Additional Protocol and small quantities. Kuwait reiterated its dedication to enhancing cooperation with the IAEA in peaceful nuclear science and technology uses. He praised the efforts of Ambassador Talal Al-Fassam, Kuwait's Permanent Representative to the IAEA in Vienna, in strengthening cooperation with the agency.
Dr. Habiba Al-Mani'e, a researcher, mentioned that ongoing cooperation with the IAEA in nuclear security aligns with the National Integrated Nuclear Security Plan. This plan has been effective in supporting nuclear security in Kuwait, focusing on infrastructure, securing radioactive sources, and preventing illicit trafficking. She stated that a meeting in the first quarter of 2025 included all relevant stakeholders, showcasing Kuwait's commitment to nuclear security and national safety standards.