The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has acquired nuclear research equipment for installation of the upgraded Instrumentation and Control System (I&C) of the Nigeria Research Reactor-1 (NIRR-1) at Ahmadu Bello University’s Centre for Energy Research and Training (CERT).
The equipment, worth N150m, were procured from the China Institute of Atomic Energy, Beijing, the designers of the research reactors, under the IAEA Purchase Order issued in 2022.
The donation of the equipment by IAEA followed the destruction of CERT’s Computer Control Console some years ago.
This followed the arrival of a four-member team of Chinese experts to the centre for the installation of the upgraded systems at the centre that began this Monday.
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The Director of the Centre, Prof. Sunday Jonah who led the Chinese experts to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kabiru Bala, said when completed, the project will increase the capabilities of the research reactors in terms of operations, safety and utilisation.
Responding, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kabiru Bala, expressed delight over the arrival of the Chinese experts for the installation, stressing that the project would greatly add value to the research activities being carried out at the centre.
Leader of the Chinese team, Prof. Yiguo Li, of the Research Reactors Department, China Institute of Atomic Energy, thanked the vice-chancellor for the warm reception, saying that they would be in the University for the next 10 days doing the installation of the upgraded systems.