Mozambique’s Atomic Energy Agency

Guaranteeing that nuclear materials and radioactive sources enter and leave the country safely and without harming the environment and people is among goals of a memorandum of understanding signed yesterday in Maputo between the Mozambican National Atomic Energy Agency (ANEA) and the Tax Authority (AT).According to the document, the two entities will work together to exchange information in order to improve the import and export and transit of radioactive material and customs procedures in relation to those circulating within the country.According to ANEA director general Alexandre Maphossa, the partnership is greatly to be valued as enabling the implementation of measures to control the safety conditions for the management of radioactive sources and nuclear materials at national territory points of entry and exit.Speaking at the occasion, AT president Amélia Nakhare said that the agreement would guarantee the oversight of the circulation of nuclear materials and radioactive sources, and would ensure that the material was used safely and for peaceful purposes, in line with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

She further clarified that the memorandum would ensure that only duly authorised individuals handled nuclear materials, reducing the risk of the environment, people and property being exposed to harmful radiation.The memorandum also recommends the training of staff for the safe transport and handling of nuclear material and envisages collecting revenues from the use of this type of energy to assist the growth of the national economy.The terms of the agreement have already entered into force, and equipment will be installed at airports and other points of entry and exit in the country to put the terms of the memorandum into operation.