Lab assists Central Asia security workshop

LLNL's Global Security Principal Directorate and the National Nuclear Security Administration recently co-sponsored a workshop on nuclear security in Central Asia.

Held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan from Nov. 12-14, the "All-Central Asia Nuclear Safety Workshop" was hosted by the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Thirty-five participants attended the three-day forum from different ministries in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan as well as from Central Asian non-governmental organizations, NNSA, the U.S. Embassy-Bishkek and LLNL. The workshop was convened by an address from the deputy minister of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic. David Smith from LLNL was the technical organizer of the meeting.

The workshop was designed to bring together experts and officials from Central Asia to discuss nuclear security issues affecting the region that derive from the production of uranium ores and uranium ore concentrates by the former Soviet Union. Topics included best technical practices for deterring illicit nuclear trafficking using nuclear forensics, a scenario-based response exercise and nuclear smuggling national response plans.

Workshop outcomes included plans for further engagement involving threat awareness and potential access to comparative nuclear forensic data and samples from active Central Asian uranium production sites.