SUSTAIN NUCLEAR SAFETY
SEVEN DECADES OF COMMITMENT P RO F E S S O R Dr S N E Ž A NA PA J OV I Ć Acting Director of the Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences
he Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences has always been shrouded in secrecy, largely due to the fact that it has the most complex multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary scientific research. The very beginning promised a glorious future and demonstrated Serbia's allegiance to Europe. Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences was founded in 1948 as a scientific centre that conducts research into contemporary topics in basic natural sciences - physics, chemistry and
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biology, founded by the world-renowned physicists Pavle Savić and Robert Valen from the Netherlands. In its seven decades-long history, the Institute has demonstrated its continuity in the best sense of the word. Following a 2018 decree of the Government of Serbia, we became a national multidisciplinary institute. At Vinča, a significant portion of scientific research programmes is implemented with the view of investigating the effects of radiation. The Institute is a unique sci-
entific research centre in the region, registered for the production of radiopharmaceuticals. The uniqueness of Vinča's radiopharmaceuticals is a strictly individual approach, with a specific dose prepared for each patient. Also, for decades, Vinča has been importing and exporting radioactive material in the country. On the other hand, the Institute has been developing other radiation technologies for the needs of businesses, such as sterilization of products.
THE ONLY OPERATOR OF ITS KIND IN SERBIA e are the only operator of nuclear facilities in Serbia. Our purpose is to manage the nuclear facilities in Serbia in a safe manner and ensure their regular operations, as well as to reduce the likelihood of potential accidents. The first major job that our public company did was transporting used nuclear fuel to the Russian Federation.
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Also, the public company operates research reactors, as well as a closed uranium mine near Kalna. The final stage in radioactive waste management is temporary storage, which is also managed by our public company. Radioactive waste is stored in licensed new storages. The new nuclear facilities have been designed and built to meet the most stringent
nuclear safety and security requirements. The risk is minimized. Every nuclear activity that is performed is analyzed beforehand. In 2020, a radioactive waste treatment plant will be opened in the company’s premises. All workers are supervised by appropriate services in terms of radiation safety. We also perform radiation monitoring.
DA L I B O R A R B U T I NA Acting Director of Public Company ‘Nuclear Facilities of Serbia’