More than 250 scientists from 20 countries and heads of international organizations participated in the 8th International Conference "Nuclear and Radiation Physics" hold in September 20-23, 2011. The conference was held at the Institute of Nuclear Physics (INP), National Nuclear Center of RK. It is timed to the 20th anniversary of independence of the republic.

Vice-Minister Bakhytzhan Dzhaksaliev has sent a welcome letter on behalf of the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies of RK, the International Advisory Board and the Organizing Committee. It says that the government of Kazakhstan has approved a program of the nuclear industry development, which will allow to create the country's fundamentals of nuclear energy, to develop nuclear and related technologies, as well as solve complex problems in nuclear physics, materials science and environmental issues. Moreover, the program aims at ensuring non-proliferation regime, opposition to illicit trafficking of nuclear and radioactive materials.

Director-General of the National Nuclear Center Kairat Kadyrzhanov therefore noted that Kazakhstan has sent a request to IAEA to place on its territory an international nuclear fuel bank (low-enriched uranium for nuclear power plants). It is important to note that in case of Kazakhstan selection in the number of applicants, our country will have some political dividends, firstly, the recognition of the international community as a stable and predictable state. In addition, Kazakhstan will get the access to nuclear technology that will accelerate the development of domestic medicine, metallurgy, nanotechnology and biotechnology.

The program of this conference was interesting in that modern scientists discussed the draft NPP. The future of nuclear energy (it is difficult to talk about the state competitiveness without nuclear energy development) depends on the progress in the development of reactors and fuel cycles of new generation. According to K. Kadyrzhanov, Kazakhstan has already identified five cities, the most preferred for the construction of nuclear power plants. There are: Taraz, Kurchatov, Balkhash, Aktau and Kostanay.

New possibilities in the diagnosis of malignant tumors were presented by physicians. Great interest was aroused by scientific report on the cleaning and sterilization of industrial and domestic wastewater. The results of industrial and domestic wastes treatment of gas transmission company by a high-current electron beam of nanosecond duration were presented. The conference also discussed the development of radiation ecology, nuclear physics and nuclear non-proliferation.