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Construction of permanent premises for the Tanzania Atomic Energy Commission, which has its head offices in Arusha, has started. The premises will be located at Njiro about 12 kilometres south east of Arusha where TAEC also has its laboratories. According to Abraham Nyanda, TAEC director general, the Commission has already spent Sh. 227m for construction and consultancy services that preceded civil works. "Construction of new office buildings started effectively on August 25, 2007. "Activities done so far include setting of substructure and foundation column. Currenctly the contractor is proceeding with the superstructure," he said.
He said designs and construction of the laboratories has been postponed until the next financial year due to shortage of funds in the 2007/2008 fiscal year budget. The Commission, which has been in existence since the 1980s, when it was known as the National Radiation Commission, is currently hosted at the Tropical Pesticides Research Institute along Namanga road. TAEC is a regulatory and service parastatal organisation responsible for all matters relating to the safe and peaceful use of atomic energy in the country. The Commission was reconstituted from the National Radiation Commission following the coming into effect of the Atomic Energy Act. 2003 on July 1, 2004. The Act mandates TAEC to provide regulatory and radiation protection services and to coordinate or facilitate or advise on the transfer and safe, peaceful utilisation of nuclear technology and atomic energy. Institutions using radiation equipment in the country include hospitals, industries, mines and research centres. The equipment is also used in security checks at various entry points including airports and conference centres.
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Technology 
