Russia’s nuclear energy agency, Rosatom, announced yesterday that it has opened on a trial basis the first two components of the Nuclear Technology Research and Development Center (CIDTN) that its overseas branch, Rustom Overseas, is building with Bolivia’s Nuclear Energy Agency (ABEN) in the city of El Alto. These are the Cyclotron Radiopharmacy Preclinical Complex (CCRP), which will produce isotopes and radiopharmaceuticals to diagnose and treat oncological, cardiac, neurological, and other diseases, and the Multipurpose Irradiation Center (CMI), providing Bolivia with a food irradiation capability.
This is a source of great pride and excitement for Bolivia, whose former President Evo Morales signed the agreement with Rosatom for the construction of CIDTN in March of 2016. On Aug. 5, on the eve of Bolivia’s Independence Day, Aug. 6, Bolivian ambassador in Moscow, Maria Luisa Ramos, stressed how important this project is both for Bolivia and Russia, as it includes technology transfer. The center involves the peaceful use of nuclear energy, she said, and many of the Bolivian specialists working at the center were trained in Russia.
Construction on these first two sectors is complete, and they are expected to be fully operational in a matter of weeks, pending final inspection and licensing. Construction and installation work continues on CIDTN’s third and fourth components, the research reactor complex, due to be commissioned in 2024, and the training center and laboratory buildings, World Nuclear News reported today. By 2025, Rosatom will hand over all of CIDTN’s installations to ABEN, which will oversee their operations.
