EMRC seizes, sends back shipment of radioactively contaminated pipes

AMMAN — A shipment of radioactively contaminated pipes, with excess levels of Radium 226 and Thorium 232, was returned to its country of origin on Wednesday after arriving at the Kingdom’s border, according to the Energy and Minerals Regulatory Commission (EMRC).

The shipment seized and sent back by EMRC personnel weighed approximately 25,000kg and consisted of metal pipes of various sizes that upon inspection were found to be acutely contaminated with Radium 226 and Thorium 232, the entry of which is prohibited under regulations, EMRC Chief Commissioner Hussein Labboun said in a statement.

He highlighted the commission’s inspections of radiation at border crossings, saying that the EMRC possesses 88 radiation-detection gates and four radiation-detection mobile vehicles that cover all border crossings, aerial, land or maritime.