Radioactively contaminated pipes turned away at border

AMMAN — For the second time in three weeks, a shipment of radioactively contaminated pipes, with excess levels of Radium 226, was returned to its country of origin after arriving at the Kingdom’s border, the Energy and Minerals Regulatory Commission (EMRC) said on Wednesday.

The shipment seized and sent back by EMRC personnel weighed approximately 26,430kg and consisted of metal pipes of various sizes that, upon inspection, were found to be acutely contaminated with the prohibited substance, EMRC Chief Commissioner Farouq Hiyari said in a statement by the commission. 

According to Hiyari, the EMRC adheres to a set protocol when testing for radioactive contamination, pointing to the use of paraphernalia, which detect radiation levels and their sources at border entrances and exits.

The EMRC monitors border operations through the operations room located in the monitoring and emergency centre at the commission, Hiyari said, adding that the centre operates around-the-clock to provide technical support and follow up on alerts from vehicles that may have committed violations. 

Hiyari noted that the EMRC, through its legally mandated role, monitors radiation levels to ensure the safety of products that enter, pass through and exit Jordan.

With the help of specialised devices and electronic gates used to detect radiation, the EMRC works to combat the illicit trade of radioactive or nuclear material that could threaten the Kingdom’s security, the statement said. 

The EMRC possesses 66 radiation-detection gates that cover all border crossings, whether aerial, land or maritime. 

In August, the commission seized and sent back a 23,500-kg shipment of radioactively contaminated pipes, the statement added. 

In 2018, three shipments that showed radioactive readings exceeding the acceptable rates were seized and shipped back to their countries of origin, in accordance with protocol. 

The commission also completed 29,107 transactions in 2018 and granted 444 permits for importing, transporting and reexporting radiation devices and radioactive material. This was in addition to the issuing of 872 licenses for institutions working in radiology, and 1,437 personal licenses for workers in the sector, including 45 for workers at the Jordan Research and Training Reactor, according to a 2018 EMRC statement.