Lahore, December 9, 2022: M/s Al-Technique Corporation of Pakistan, a division of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), installed Punjab’s first E-Beam Plant at Pakistan Radiation Services (PARAS), Pakistan.
During the opening of the E-Beam Plant, PAEC Chairman Dr. Ali Raza Anwar reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to using science and technology, particularly nuclear techniques, for the nation’s socioeconomic advancement in line with the Atom for Peace goal. This occasion was also attended by PAEC members and other distinguished visitors.
AL-Technique Corp. of Pakistan (ATCOP) Managing Director gave a briefing on the advantages of the recently installed 10 MeV, 20 kW E-Beam Plant. The E-Beam Plant will serve the needs of exporters that sell food products to nations like Australia, America, New Zealand, and other European nations in addition to serving the industry that manufactures health care products.
In addition to increasing exports, this plant will help generate valuable foreign exchange, which is desperately needed to bolster the nation’s economy. This E-Beam facility is the first of its type in the Punjab province and employs cutting-edge technology. In 1987, PARAS opened its first gamma irradiation facility in Pakistan. In 2008, a second one was added. PARAS is and will continue to be a leader in the provision of sterilization services to Pakistan’s healthcare industry. By reducing the need of chemical preservatives, this green technology—ionizing radiation—allows businesses to promote international trade while meeting sanitary and phytosanitary standards for food goods through quarantine treatment.The treatment is carried out for products in final packagings which eliminates chances of cross contamination and reduce food borne diseases.
These plants at PARAS have licenses from the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA) and certifications from the Australian Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, Ministry of National Food Security and Research (Department of Plant Protection).
These establishments are also certified by ISO. Worldwide, electron beam irradiation is replacing gamma-based irradiation due to its energy and time efficiency. Issues with safety, security, and the availability of Cobalt-60 are also problematic. Due to the ongoing nature of this nuclear source degradation, long-term contracts with clients are not possible. The installation of this 20kW, 10 MeV electron beam facility will fix the processing latency problem.
At a dose of 20 kGy, it can process 1300 cubic feet of goods every day. Food can now be kept in a cold chain both during and after processing. Due to its many advantages, E-Beam is the most advanced technology that is being used globally.