VietNamNet Bridge – All radioactive sources across the country will be installed with global positioning system (GPS) devices from October so as to make it possible for competent agencies to effectively monitor radioactive materials.

A technician installs a GPS device on a radioactive source in this file photo – Photo: Thai Ngoc

The GPS device installation plan was mentioned by Vuong Huu Tan, director of the Vietnam Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety, at a meeting with the HCMC Department of Science and Technology on August 18.

Tan said of the three domestic manufacturers of GPS devices for radioactive materials, devices made by the Integrated Circuits Design Research and Education Center (ICDREC) under Vietnam National University-HCMC had been picked for the plan.

ICDREC has collaborated with the department to install GPS devices on 17 out of 37 radioactive sources needed to be tracked. The rest are not yet equipped because they have been moved to other locations though they were registered in the city.

ICDREC said it has completed production of 200 devices. The price is VND5 million for location detection equipment and VND9 million for devices identifying both locations and levels of radioactivity.

The installation will help the authorities identify radioactive materials when they are moved from one place to another to prevent these dangerous radioactive sources from being lost.

Tan said six radioactive sources have gone missing since 2003. For example, a source of radioactive material at Pomina 3 steel mill in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province was found missing in April.

The Vietnam Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety will also install radiation identifying equipment at airports and seaports to detect radioactive sources going in and out of the country. Currently only Noi Bai airport in Hanoi City and the Cai Mep-Thi Vai port complex in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province have installed such devices.

Besides, the U.S. has helped install GPS devices for 24 research, food irradiation and medical facilities with radioactive activity over 1000 Curie.    

SGT