The Japanese government has decided to set up a centre to enhance human resources development for preventing nuclear terrorism.
The Japanese news agency Kyodo said the centre, which will be located at the Japan Atomic Energy Agency in Tokai, Ibaraki Prefecture , is designed to accept nuclear experts from around the world, mainly from Asia , and take on the role of an ''international hub'' on nuclear security and non-proliferation issues.
The initial budget for the project is estimated at 200 million to 300 million JPY.
The planned centre would provide knowledge and expertise on not only the protection of nuclear materials and nuclear facilities but also issues related to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)'s safeguard agreements and export control.
The plan will be unveiled by Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama at the Nuclear Security Summit to be hosted by U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington on April 12-13. In doing so, Hatoyama will stress Japan 's intention to lead nuclear terrorism prevention efforts in Asia as the only country that has suffered atomic bombings.
According to Kyodo , Japan also plans to significantly raise its monetary contributions to the IAEA's Nuclear Security Fund from the current level of around 10 million JPY a year.
It said a move by the government also may help Japanese companies seeking to expand their business in Asia , where demand for nuclear power plants is expected to increase in the future./.
The Japanese news agency Kyodo said the centre, which will be located at the Japan Atomic Energy Agency in Tokai, Ibaraki Prefecture , is designed to accept nuclear experts from around the world, mainly from Asia , and take on the role of an ''international hub'' on nuclear security and non-proliferation issues.
The initial budget for the project is estimated at 200 million to 300 million JPY.
The planned centre would provide knowledge and expertise on not only the protection of nuclear materials and nuclear facilities but also issues related to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)'s safeguard agreements and export control.
The plan will be unveiled by Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama at the Nuclear Security Summit to be hosted by U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington on April 12-13. In doing so, Hatoyama will stress Japan 's intention to lead nuclear terrorism prevention efforts in Asia as the only country that has suffered atomic bombings.
According to Kyodo , Japan also plans to significantly raise its monetary contributions to the IAEA's Nuclear Security Fund from the current level of around 10 million JPY a year.
It said a move by the government also may help Japanese companies seeking to expand their business in Asia , where demand for nuclear power plants is expected to increase in the future./.
