Survey in South-East Asia

In early 1959 an IAEA mission visited Burma, Ceylon, Indonesia and Thailand. In each of the four countries, the mission held detailed discussions with scientists and officials, collected information and exchanged ideas. Besides general discussion, consultations were held in small working groups on specific topics and problems. The members of the mission also visited atomic energy centres, other scientific and technical organizations, educational institutions as well as sites of actual or possible projects. The reports of the mission contain, a general description of the atomic energy programmes of the four countries, covering both current and planned activities, the mission's comments and recommendations and lists of specific requests for Agency assistance made by these countries after discussions with the mission. Atomic energy work in Burma is primarily the responsibility of the Union of Burma Atomic Energy Centre (UBAEC). Set up in 1955, the Centre is a part of the Union of Burma Applied Research Institute (UBARI). The programme of UBAEC includes a broad training scheme, the setting up of a Nuclear Radiation Laboratory by 1960-61, a study of the possibilities of installing a research reactor by 1962-63 and the possible erection of other reactors at a later date. The mission discussed with the Burmese authorities their tentative plans for atomic energy legislation and the advice given might help in the early establishment of an independent atomic energy commission. Ceylon too is embarking on several atomic energy activities and long-range plans are being developed. The emphasis, it is expected, will be mainly on education, raw material prospecting, isotopes and nuclear power development. A Committee on Atomic Energy was created in 1958 by Ceylon's National Planning Council, and the Committee is now working towards the early formation of a central atomic energy authority. The IAEA mission advised the officials of the Committee on the framing of such legislation as is considered immediately necessary for this purpose. A State Commission on Radioactivity and Atomic Energy was established in Indonesia in 1954. In 1958, the Commission was replaced by the Council for Atomic Energy as an advisory body to the Cabinet; an Institute of Atomic Energy is to be formed to serve as the operational arm of the Council. At present, all work in this field is centred in Bandung, Bogor, Djakarta and Jogjakarta. Training and research reactors are contemplated for both Bandung and Jogjakarta, and should serve in the near future as focal points in the gradual development of a programme of research and training. There are also plans for the use of radioisotopes in agriculture, medicine and industry. In Thailand, a good start has already been made with a broad atomic energy programme. Work is planned or under way for training, research, the use of radioisotopes in agriculture and medicine, atomic power, raw materials and other related fields. The Thai Atomic Energy Commission for Peace, established in 1956, is charged with the promotion, development and control of all peaceful atomic energy activities in the country. The Commission made early plans to install a research reactor and has entered into a contract with the Curtiss Wright Corporation of the USA for the construction of a swimming pool reactor with a maximum output of 1 mw. The estimated period of construction is twenty-four months and the reactor is expected to become operational by 1961 or 1962. The Commission has also established a programme of training for Thai scientists, a substantial number of whom have already studied or are now studying abroad. The mission paid particular attention to the possibilities of applying the tools of atomic energy to agriculture, medicine, health physics and raw materials needed in atomic energy. The reports of the mission also contain considerable information on a variety of other related subjects. On all issues of interest, the members of the mission held detailed discussions with the national authorities. On the basis of these discussions, ea ch of the four countries has formulated requests for assistance from the Agency, -mainly for the provision of experts and equipment. Some of these requests have already been approved by IAEA's Board of Governors.