Last week, NORSAR Director Birger Steen attended the international conference “Semipalatinsk Test Site: Legacy and Prospects for Scientific-Technical Potential Development” in Kazakhstan.

The conference brought together representatives from research institutions, government agencies, and international organizations to discuss the legacy of the Semipalatinsk test site—one of the most important locations in the history of nuclear testing—as well as future opportunities for scientific and technical cooperation in the field of nuclear safety and energy.

Between 1949 and 1989, a total of 456 nuclear bomb tests were carried out, both above and below ground, at Semipalatinsk. After the fall of the Soviet Union, Kazakhstan's then president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, closed the site to further testing. Today, the area stands as a symbol of both the long-term consequences of nuclear testing and the importance of international cooperation to secure former test sites and prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

The annual conference serves as an important platform for discussion on research, technology development, and measures to strengthen the global non-proliferation agenda.

- Thirty years of experience with the Test Ban Treaty has taught us that research and technological development can play a key role in peace efforts. We have also learned that it is a great advantage if the technology is ready for use when the geopolitical situation allows diplomats to take action. This lesson may prove relevant and valuable in 2025 as well, says Birger Steen, Director of NORSAR.

The conference was organized by Kazakhstan's Ministry of Energy, in collaboration with the country's Academy of Sciences, the National Nuclear Center, Kazatomprom, and several leading research and technology institutions.

Among the main topics were:

• Nuclear safety, materials research, and the management of spent fuel and radioactive waste
• Developments in hydrogen energy and controlled fusion processes
• Radioecology and medical monitoring of areas affected by previous nuclear tests
• Monitoring and remediation of radioactively contaminated areas
• Strengthening the global non-proliferation regime and verification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT)

As a key player in seismic monitoring and verification of the Test Ban Treaty, NORSAR's participation in the conference is an important part of the ongoing work to promote international cooperation and technological development in nuclear security.