The Papua New Guinea University of Technology has awarded a contract of K1.385 million to Gemstroke Limited to build the country’s first dosimetry laboratory to carry out tests on all radiation used in medical and private industry.

The laboratory expected to be completed in eight months’ time will be housed within the Applied Physics Department at the University. Equipment in the lab will be used to measure radiation exposure from x-rays, gamma rays and other types of radiation used in medical and industrial sectors.

The laboratory jointly funded by the National Institute of Standards and Industrial Technology (NISIT) and the National Government will act as the National Radiological Laboratory where all Government and private sectors using radioactive sources will send their materials for radiation exposure testing.

It will be the country’s standardization laboratory designated to develop, maintain and improve primary standards of radiation in PNG.

The equipment in the lab will be used to test samples from solid, liquid, and powder exposed to radioactive sources. It will also be useful for the country in terms of testing radiation levels in any food items, river sources, seawater, reefs, soil, rocks, and sediments in the areas that have mining activities.

State-of-the-art Laboratory equipment was donated by the International Atomic Agency with accessories and latest software available on the market.

This equipment is the latest and enhances the Department’s research drive and Postgraduate studies. The laboratory will house several radiation detectors to measure background environmental radiation.

PNGUoT Vice Chancellor Professor Ora Renagi when signing the contract said he was pleased that the building of the building of the laboratory was getting off the ground.

“Unitech is always expanding and the learning environment is also expanding and we need such laboratory within the university to expand and develop the quality of teaching and research here at the university,” Professor Renagi said.

Vice Chancellor Prof Renagi thanked the former Deputy Prime Minister Late Sam Basil for pushing the project together with the K700,000 support from NISIT to have the laboratory built.