Ministry of Environment presents nuclear examination lab donated by Europeans

The mobile nuclear examination laboratory provided to Moldova within a European project was handed over to the Ministry of the Environment on February 12, Info-Prim Neo reports. The lab represents a minibus with radiological equipment that costs €350,000. With the help of this device, the specialists will be able to establish the danger degree of a radioactive material and where it can be storied safely. The lab allows analyzing the radioactive material quantitatively and qualitatively in a record period of time. During the handover ceremony, Ionel Balan, director of the National Agency for Regulation of Nuclear and Radiological Activity, said the laboratory will be used to identify radioactive sources at scientific, industrial and medical enterprises where there may be radioactive material. Minister of the Environment Gheorghe Salaru said the problems related to nuclear security become global and this lab will contribute to ensuring the population’s security and health. The EU Delegation’s representative Wicher Slagter said that Moldova and the European Union are partners in combating illegal trafficking in different products, including nuclear, and this device will help Moldova to prevent smuggling. The mobile laboratory forms part of the technical assistance provided by the European Commission for improving the response capacities and nuclear criminological capacity for implementing the Instrument for Stability.