Friday 5 July 2024
The construction of the Dosimetry Laboratory at the Papua New Guinea University of Technology is finally nearing its physical completion, despite missing the completion date set for January 2024.
In a recent statement, the Acting Director General of the National Institute of Standards & Industrial Technology (NISIT), Mr Victor Gabi, said the project is now at a 95 percent completed and should be commissioned in the next few weeks.
According to the project director Mr. Derick Kundi of PNG Unitech’s Project Office, this laboratory will be a subsidiary of NISIT and University of Technology with a 60 per cent to 40 per cent ownership respectively.
He said the Dosimetry Laboratory will be the first of its kind in PNG, and as a subsidiary under NISIT, it will be constructed to meet requirements of a Secondary Standard Dosimetry Laboratory (SSDL).
“The main building is already complete. We are now working on the outside facade, and it’s basically an outside drainage and a carpark.”
The Dosimetry Laboratory is constructed as an extension to the current Applied Physics Department building at Unitech and will cater for the measurement of personal dosimetry for the radiation workers, and other types of environmental sample testing to determine presence of radionuclide in soil, water, plants and air, in PNG.
Head of Physics Department Dr. David Kolkoma said: “This would be the first of its kind lab in PNG.
“Once the Dosimetry project is completed, we won’t need to send personal dosimeter to other countries for measurement, but we will do it right in the country.”
He added, “In the past, people in certain areas where they used radioactive sources sent the TLD badges to Australia and other places for checking, but after this, I think we will do it from here; that will save money for the country.
“I’m so happy that we have started the project, and, you know, somebody must do it. These are new ideas; we’ve never done this kind of thing in the past.
“This will really help the country; there are so many studies that can be done from here; we will study radioactive sources, buildings, rivers, and all those kinds of things; they can be tested from here, and so we can be like any other country in the world with this kind of facility available.”
The Dosimetry Laboratory will serve as a very important facility to the Radiation section.”
Built at a cost of K1.32 million, the lab will soon help with the calibration of dosimetry equipment used to measure the amount of ironizing radiation delivered by a technician.
The Programme Officer for Commerce, SME, and Trade, Mr. Matthew Brass stated that the Dosimetry lab project was very important after meeting and speaking with experts at Unitech and Angau Hospital.
“Cancer is killing many of our mothers, sisters, and even men nowadays. Cancer is curable, but given the lack of facilities, support, and awareness, people are dying, and the number of cancer patients in the country is increasing.
“Through this project, we see that cancer patients will be treated quickly, and workers exposed to radiation will take preventive measures to live healthily and longer once we have this project up and running,” Mr. Brass said.
“The progress of the project is on track given that it was started in 2023 and will be completed in 2024, which is quite a significant deliverable in comparison with other PIP funded projects.
“The objective of the dosimetry lab is to ensure the safety of workers, both public and private, in line with the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) guidelines and to cancer patients as early as possible.
“Once the project is completed, it will be an operational matter where NISIT and Unitech can manage the project and its sustainability. DNPM will support such projects in the future based on NISIT’s intention and request,” Mr Brass added.
“We were able to see the connection as the dosimetry lab will assist radiation workers in terms of telling how much dose is exposed to radiation workers, and that is the work of the dosimetry lab to assist Angau General Hospital, the new cancer facility in Port Moresby General Hospital (still under construction), and other hospitals where possible and all industries in PNG that require its services.”
A team from the Department of National Monitoring and Planning (DNMP) made a joint visit with a team from the National Institute of Standards and Industrial Technology NISIT) to Lae on June 14, 2024, to inspect the project site.
The tour was led by the Acting Executive Manager for Radiation Safety and Control Mr. Reuben Harokaveh.
The duration of the project was supposed to be eight months, with the proposed completion date set for January 30, 2024, however, due to bad weather and delays in arrival of building materials, the revised due date was further extended to July.