Russian firm offers expertise in nuclear research to Phl

Russian State Atomic Energy Corp. (ROSATOM) is eyeing more opportunities to advance the Philippines’ nuclear research program particularly in medicine and agriculture through its partnership with the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI).

ROSATOM has been partnering with countries like Bolivia and Zambia to put up a Center for Nuclear Sci- ence and Technology (CNST) that will allow them to start the development of nuclear technologies that may be applied in science, healthcare, agriculture, geology and other fields.

A CNST can have several elements – center for nuclear medicine, research reactor, research laboratories and a multipurpose irradiation center.

ROSATOM Southeast Asia director Egor Simonov said putting up a similar project in the Philippines would allow the country to apply nuclear technology in areas such as medicine and agriculture.

“Such centers can contribute to the improvement of living standards in a country by creating new jobs, spurring the development of medicine, solving some agricultural problems and many more. Along with social improvements, they create a solid foundation for the development of the nuclear industry,” he said.

ROSATOM said a center for nuclear medicine is constructed for diagnostics and therapy of cancer and other diseases, as well as for production of radiopharmaceuticals for treatment.

A national cyclotron radiopharmacy center can produce radioisotopes and radiopharmaceuticals to be used for diagnostics of cancer, cardiac and neurological diseases. Serious diseases, such as cancer, can be diagnosed in time, thus increasing the chances of survival.

A research reactor and lab complex is a nuclear reactor for scientific research, while a multipurpose irradiation center is a facility for sterilization of medical devices and pharmaceuticals, as well as disinsection and decontamination of food and agricultural products.

In agriculture, the multipurpose irradiation center can be built to perform irradiation and sterilization of foodstuffs and medical supplies. Food products irradiation increases the shelf life of products, prevents sprouting of vegetables and the growth of insects and pests. As it is cold process, products retain their unique flavors and aromas.

Simonov said the Philippines is one of the world’s top exporter of bananas, which is in demand in the European market and valued for its good nutritional properties.