The Radiation Department at Safety, Health and Environment National Authority (SHENA) participated virtually in the 65th Annual Regular Session of the IAEA General Conference along with representatives from other IAEA member states. The main aim of the general conference is to allow its member states to meet in an annual session where they consider and approve the IAEA’s annual budget as well as to discuss issues on safety, security and safeguard raised by the Board of Governors, the Director-General and member states. This year’s conference was held from 20-24 September 2021 at the Vienna International Centre (VIC) and Brunei Darussalam delegation was led by Puan Yang Terutama Dk Hjh Mazlizah Pg Hj Mahalee, the Permanent Representative of Brunei Darussalam to the United Nations Office in Geneva.

In conjunction with the General Conference, the IAEA had organized a bilateral consultation meeting on 23 September 2021 with the National Liaison Office at the Ministry of Energy to discuss matters pertaining to Brunei Darussalam IAEA Technical Cooperation Programme and the strategic technical cooperation activities which includes the national radiation safety infrastructure development and review of the Country Programme Framework (CPF). Present at the meeting were representatives from SHENA Radiation Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Pantai Jerudong Specialist Centre. The meeting started with the opening remarks delivered by Ms. Jane Gerado-Abaya, Director of the IAEA Technical Cooperation Division for Asia and the Pacific. IAEA was represented by the Department of Technical Cooperation, Office of Legal Affairs, and others.

There were side events held on the occasion of the General Conference which were virtually attended by SHENA which are as follows:

• Senior Safety and Security Regulator’s Meeting

• The Integrated Nuclear Security Support Plans (INSSP): Building on 15 Years of Achievements

• Developing Capacity for the Wider Use of Stable Isotope Techniques for Source Attribution of Greenhouse

• Gases in the Atmosphere

• The Technical Cooperation Programme in Asia and the Pacific: Major Contribution to Development

• Towards Strengthening Global Nuclear Security

• Scientific Forum on Preparing for Zoonotic Outbreaks: The Role of Nuclear Science

The Radiation Department of SHENA remains committed to implement the standards and requirements provided by the IAEA in its effort to strengthen the radiation regulatory infrastructure of its member states and ensure that there is compliance with international radiation safety, security and safeguards requirements for the peaceful use of nuclear technologies by the relevant industries in Brunei Darussalam.
Elected Kuwait’s Ambassador, Sadiq M. Marafi in his capacity as the president of the 65th session of the IAEA General Conference.

65th Annual Regular Session of the IAEA General Conference

SHENA virtual participation in the bilateral consultation meeting with the IAEA