Kazatomprom, Cambridge Kazakhstan Development Fund and Cavendish Laboratory have signed Declaration of Intent
11.11.2011London
November 11, 2011 – Today the National Atomic Company Kazatomprom JSC, Cambridge Kazakhstan Development Fund (CKDF) and Department of Physics (Cavendish Laboratory) of the University of Cambridge have signed the Declaration of Intent under the framework of Kazakh-British Economic Forum, which is held in UK.
Signing ceremony was held during the visit of National Welfare Fund Samruk-Kazyna JSC to the University of Cambridge.
According to the Declaration of Intent, Kazatomprom will provide financial support to the CKDF and Cavendish Laboratory for joint research projects in physics and chemistry.
Also, on November 10, 2011 there were industry panel discussions as part of Kazakh-British Economic Forum. A separate round-table meeting was devoted to energy issues and the development of alternative sources.
Vladimir Shkolnik presented to nuclear industry experts of UK and Kazakhstan the position of Kazatomprom in standards and criteria of safety of the nuclear power objects. In addition, the Chairman of NAC Kazatomprom JSC Management Board made a presentation on the mechanisms of managing global risks in nuclear power development.
In particular, Vladimir Shkolnik made a brief analysis of major accidents in nuclear industry and pointed out the need to strengthen the commitment to a critical attitude in safety of nuclear power plants not only in words but in deeds also.
"Past experience suggests that all these accidents could have prevented by relatively inexpensive improvements, the need of which could have determined in advance by in-depth analysis.These observations lead to the conclusion that we need to do as much as possible to prevent major accidents and limit their consequences if they do occur, "- says Vladimir Shkolnik.
Also, the Head of Kazatomprom underlined the leading role of Kazakhstan and personally the President Nursultan Nazarbayev in nonproliferation regime and strengthening the nuclear safety of global nuclear energy.
In his speech, Vladimir Shkolnik highlighted the primary importance of implementing global risks management in use of nuclear energy at all stages of the nuclear fuel cycle from mining and processing of natural uranium to handling of spent nuclear fuel of nuclear power plants.
Cavendish Laboratory is the Department of Physics and part of the School of Physical Sciences at the University of Cambridge. The Laboratory was founded in 1874 as the world's first educational and scientific laboratory, where students can learn as well as to conduct research with the staff of the university. During World War II, the laboratory has conducted research on projects in nuclear weapons.
University of Cambridge is one of the oldest universities in the UK and Ireland, one of the most famous universities in the world, a member of the elite Russell Group. Currently, the University of Cambridge consists of 31 colleges. The University has more than 100 departments, faculties and schools, which are coordinated by the General Board. Today 18000 students are enrolled and 17% of them are foreigners. Among the people who in one way or another related to the University of Cambridge, 88 are Nobel laureates - this indicator ranks the University in one of the first places among the higher education institutions in the world.
