Regional Workshop on the end-of-life management of radioactive sources jointly organized by the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority and the US Department of Energy

The Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority (HAEA), together with the US Department of Energy (DoE), organized a regional conference on the end-of-life management of radioactive sources in Budapest from 22 to 26 June 2026. In addition to Hungarian and US experts, the event was attended by regulatory and industry experts from Armenia, Bulgaria, Czechia, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Norway, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Türkiye, Ukraine, Serbia and Slovakia.

Ms. Andrea Beatrix Kádár, President of the HAEA, emphasized in her opening speech that disused radioactive sources can pose a significant risk if their management is not carried out safely and securely within a national regulatory system, with well-defined roles and responsibilities. She also thanked the DoE for its continuous support and praised the cooperation over the past two decades, which helps maintaining a high level of nuclear security in Hungary.

Through presentations, case studies and interactive group sessions, the conference participants were able to delve into topics such as different end-of-life management strategies, challenges and successes, identification of sources of unknown origin, decommissioning, consolidation and transport activities, and the handling of radiation sources out of regulatory control. On Wednesday, participants visited the Püspökszilágy site of the Public Limited Company for Radioactive Waste Management and were also introduced to an awareness-raising and educational tool developed by the US experts.

The HAEA remains committed to supporting the training of domestic and international experts by organizing similar events, thereby ensuring the protection of the population and the environment against the harmful effects of ionizing radiation.