Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Ministry, EU discuss management of chemical and associated wastes

Ministry, EU discuss management of chemical and associated wastes

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
NACW secretary-general Phorn Nara (right) shakes hands with Project 61 team leader Andrew Proudlove at the 12-day workshop on Tuesday. Photo supplied

Ministry, EU discuss management of chemical and associated wastes

The National Authority for the Prohibition of Chemical, Nuclear, Biological and Radiological Weapons (NACW) at the Ministry of National Defence and the EU have co-organised a 12-day workshop for 205 trainees from 29 institutions.

The workshop focuses on training participants on the Sound Management of Chemicals and their Associated Wastes in Southeast Asia (Seachem).

According to Fresh News, NACW secretary-general Phorn Nara and Project 61 team leader Andrew Proudlove officiated the opening of the workshop on November 18.

Project 61 is an EU-funded project which covers the Asean region. Its purpose is to address any outstanding chemical safety and security issues in areas of legislation or regulation, prevention, detection, preparedness and response.

In its Facebook post, NACW announced that Nara attended the opening ceremony on behalf of Minister of National Defence Tea Banh on Tuesday. However, The Post could not reach Nara or Ministry of National Defence spokesman Chhum Socheat for comment.

NACW deputy secretary-general Pen Bunnary also could not comment as he was indisposed when the workshop’s opening was held.

Fresh News reported that the specialists came from the UK Department of Health, International Security and Emergency Management Institute of the Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic and the EU-affiliated Sustainable Criminal Justice Solutions.

Fresh News quoted Nara as saying that the national-level workshop had been divided into five categories of training. “The first category is about increasing the skills, preparedness, response [time] and restoration of chemical weapon substances.

“Second, it is to increase the capability of properly managing incidents, terrorism and crimes of chemical weapon substances, biology and radiology and nuclear.

“Third is to train them in the know-how to use exploration tools and experiences of chemical weapon substances, biology, radiology and nuclear.

“Fourth, it is the clearance and washing of chemical weapon substances, biology and radiology and nuclear. Fifth is ways of choosing samples, identifying and managing risks of chemical weapon substances, biology and radiology and nuclear;

“And sixth it is the transportation, maintenance, safety protection of chemicals, biology and radiology and nuclear in the warehouse,” Fresh News reported.

Nara also reiterated that chemical weapons, as well as nuclear, biological, radiological and chemical substance threats remain a complex problem that is difficult to manage.

MOST VIEWED

  • 12th Cambodia int’l film festival to see return of Hollywood star

    Phnom Penh is set to come alive with the magic of cinema as the highly anticipated 12th Cambodia International Film Festival (CIFF) takes centre stage. Boasting an impressive line-up of 188 films from 23 countries, including captivating shorts, feature films, documentaries and animation, the festival promises an

  • Bareknuckle champion wants Kun Khmer fighter

    Dave Leduc, who is the current openweight Lethwei boxing champion in Myanmar, has announced that he will travel to Cambodia this year to challenge SEA Games gold medallist Prum Samnang any time that is convenient, after their planned match later this month in Slovakia was

  • Struggling Battambang artist dreams of staging full-scale gallery exhibition

    Leav Kimchhoth, a 55-year-old artist from Battambang province, is a familiar face to locals and tourists alike on the streets of the riverside in Phnom Penh. The one-armed painter and illustrator often hawks his work near the night market on weekends and public holidays. He

  • Fresh Covid warnings as Thai hospital fills

    A senior health official reminds the public to remain vigilant, as neighbouring countries experience an increase in Covid-19 cases, with the latest surge appearing to be a result of the Omicron XBB.1.5 sub-variant. Or Vandine, secretary of state and spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health,

  • 1.4 billion dollar Phnom Penh-Bavet expressway due in four years

    The Government, through the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, has officially signed a public-private partnership agreement with a private company for the construction of a Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway project that will connect the capital to Svay Rieng province. The budget for the project is

  • New Law on Taxation comes into effect

    Cambodia has enacted the eagerly-awaited new Law on Taxation, which aims to improve the national tax regime’s compliance with present and future international standards and economic conditions; encourage accountability, effectiveness and transparency in the collection process; and promote investment in the Kingdom. King Norodom