On October 3, 2019 in Havana, an agreement for the implementation of a project for the construction of a multipurpose irradiation center in the Republic of Cuba was signed.
Jose Fidel Santana, Vice Minister of Science, Technology and Environment, and Nikolay Spassky, Deputy Director General at ROSATOM, signed the document on the Cuban side and on the Russian side respectively. The ceremony took place in the presence of Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev and leader of the Republic of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel as part of the visit of Russian prime minister to Cuba on October 3-4.
The agreement opens up a possibility of building the Multipurpose Irradiation Center in Cuba based on the modern technologies offered by ROSATOM and supplied by its subsidiary JSC Rusatom Healthcare.
The Center’s supposed objectives include irradiation of agricultural products, which will increase their shelf life and improve quality to supply the domestic market, tourism and increase the export potential of the country. The Center could be also used for the sterilization of medical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and other products.
If the project is successful, the Parties will study the possibilities for establishing a network of such Centers in Cuba.
Background:
Inversiones GAMMA S.A. is responsible for the project from Cuba and Rusatom Healthcare JSC is responsible for the project from Russia.
The Government of the Republic of Cuba and the Government of the Russian Federation signed an agreement on cooperation in peaceful use of atomic energy on September 27, 2016. May 15, 2018, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment of the Republic of Cuba and ROSATOM (the Russian Federation) signed a memorandum of understanding stating the parties’ intentions to develop the strategic partnership in the improvement and application of radiation technologies.