China Isotope & Radiation Corporation (CIRC), a subsidiary of China Baoyuan Investment Co Ltd, a member company of China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), has won the bid to construct a gamma irradiation station for the Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA).
CIRC said this was an integral part of its efforts to support China’s Belt & Road Initiative (BRI) and to promote CNNC’s international development strategies. The irradiation station, with a designed capacity of more than 1m curies, is the first such project commissioned by a foreign government institution and the first overseas engineering, procurement & construction (EPC) project won by CIRC.
The irradiation facility is mainly designed to disinfect and sterilise bacteria of foods, medical devices, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, conduct quarantine inspections and extend the shelf life of products. It is a mandatory requirement for the export of products and offers tremendous market potentials in the BRI countries and regions.
CIRC said the successful bid is the result of coordinated efforts taken by the CIRC and other subsidiaries of the CNNC to further strengthen their collaboration and complement each other in their overseas development. It is expected to produce positive demonstration effects in the BRI countries of South Asia, help the CNNC enhance its international influence, and advance cooperation in all industrial supply chains.
CIRC is the largest nuclear enterprise involved with research and development, manufacture, distribution and service of nuclear products in China. It is mainly engaged in research and application of radioisotope and radiation technology, including radioisotope preparation using nuclear reactors and cyclotrons. It is involved in the production of radiopharmaceuticals, radioactive sources, radiation engineering and processing. CIRC’s three radiopharmaceutical manufacturing and research bases are in Beijing, Chengdu and Shenzhen.
