TAEC finalizes scholarship plan to boost nuclear experts

Photo: Guardian Reporter

Prof Lazaro Busagala, Tanzania Atomic Energy Commission director general.

By Carlos Banda , The Guardian

TANZANIA Atomic Energy Commission (TAEC) is in the final stages to complete scholarship plan for Tanzanian youth to pursue nuclear science and technology programmes to ensure the country has more nuclear experts.

Prof Lazaro Busagala, TAEC director general revealed this in Dar es Salaam yesterday when speaking to journalists on the success of the commission in the past three years since President Samia Suluhu Hassan came into office in 2021.

He said the commission expects to sponsor five Tanzanian youth every year, adding that, it has also invested in capacity programmes sponsored by the government to equip its staff with skills that are expected to help build the country with nuclear technology capabilities.

“Following the enacted training initiative which started implementation, TAEC has so far trained 29 of its staff and it continues to sponsor 32 others within a period of three years, which makes a total of 61 public servants.

This is important for the progress of the country’s welfare in nuclear science technology,” he said.

Prof Busagala also said the commission made a number of strides through development of its own content for awareness building via programmes in its own platforms as well as in the media.

“If you make a comparison between now and the past, you’ll find that there is a huge difference. We have more programmes broadcasted on TV, radio, social media and newspaper publications to spread awareness to the public on the merits of nuclear technology,” he said.

Busagala also highlighted that the commission has made strides to support innovation in Tanzania through the invention of a trailer for transporting radioactive materials to protect both TAEC staff and the public from radiation.

“We have continued with various initiatives that is why more funds are injected into research projects to help achieve various innovations that are important to the country’s economic development. The government has allocated a budget of 450m/- for the financial year 2023/24. The efforts aim to ensure we gain more opportunities in nuclear science and technology to protect people and the environment against radiation,” he said.

Prof Busagala added that the government continued to support TAEC through provision of a budget of 2.9bn/- to facilitate the purchase of equipment needed by the commission, noting that the support is vital to ensure the commission effectively prevents the effects of radiation, conduct research and development programmes for the development of nuclear technology.

He said that until 2022/23 the commission conducted 971 inspections annually to regulate the safe use of radiation, 298 per cent rise from 244 inspections implemented in 2016/17.