A Training Course on the “Conduct of National Inspections” was held in the Regional Training Center on Weapons of Mass Destruction Non-Proliferation and Export Control for Courtiers of Central Asia, Caucasus and Afghanistan of Nuclear and Radiation Safety Agency of National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan from April 12 to April 16, 2021. 

In his opening remarks, Dr. Ilhom Mirsaidzoda – Director of NRSA thanked the U.S. Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration’s International Nuclear Safeguards Engagement Program (INSEP) representatives as well as representatives of IAEA for participation in this training course. He noted that he is very glad that cooperation with INSEP is developing. He also thanked Liliya Dallmann and her team for INSEP’s assistance to NRSA in the area of safeguards implementation in Tajikistan as well as for help in carrying out this training course. He noted that recently, in the framework of the INSEP Project, the NRSA received the equipment, which will be used during this training course. Also, he mentioned that this training course is very important for NRSA, especially for new inspectors, who will be able to familiarize with the process of inspections conducting during the training course.

The first day started with the introduction of the National Legislative Framework of the Republic of Tajikistan. Besides, there were three presentations:

• Overview of Data Collection Techniques;
• Introduction to Note-Taking;
• Drafting an Inspection Plan

After each of the presentations was exercises.

The second day started with the exercise on Drafting an Inspection Plan. Then the presentation Conducting an Entrance Meeting has been carried out. After the presentation, the participants were divided into three groups. In each group, they had exercised on:

• Document Review Exercise: Nuclear Material Accounting;
• Observation Exercise: Nuclear Materials Verification Using an Idetifinder and NRSA Procedures;
• Performance Test Exercise.

The third day started with a presentation – Interview Techniques. Then participants had an exercise - Interview Techniques, after that the presentation – Root Cause Analysis has been carried out. The Verifying Data Collection Results have been discussed. The exercise – Data Analysis has been conducted. The last presentation was – Enforcement in Tajikistan.

The fourth day has been devoted to two presentations and three exercises:

• Presentation: Determining Deficiencies and Documenting Inspection Results;
• Exercise: Documenting Inspection Deficiencies;
• Presentation: Developing Corrective Action Plans;
• Exercises: Developing Corrective Action Plans;
• Exercises: Draft Inspection Report.

The last day continued by Drafting Inspection Report in groups. After each group finished their reports, they had their group Presentations.