Peru contributes US$10,000 to future OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology

This project will result in the construction of a new facility to be known as the OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology (ChemTech Centre).

The contribution was formalized during a ceremony at the OPCW Headquarters between OPCW Director-General, Fernando Arias, and Permanent Representative of Peru to the OPCW, Ambassador Carlos Andres Miguel Herrera.

"I thank the Government of Peru for this contribution to the new OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology that will further build the capabilities of our Member States to achieve a world free of chemical weapons," the Director-General expressed.

For his part, Ambassador Herrera said "Peru is more than pleased to make a contribution to the ChemTech Centre project, which will enhance training programmes and research on new tools at the forefront of the latest scientific and technologic developments related to the work of the OPCW and the CWC."

"This contribution is coherent with Peru's position to strongly support the mission of the OPCW and the implementation of all the pillars of its constitutive treaty," he added.

Director-General Arias requested all OPCW States in a position to make voluntary contributions to do so. He further emphasized the important role the new ChemTech Centre will play in strengthening the OPCW's ability to address chemical weapon threats, and enhance capacity building activities. He highlighted that "all contributions, regardless of size, are greatly appreciated."

So far, thirty-two States and the European Union have contributed or pledged to contribute financially to the project, and a considerable amount has been raised to date. In the coming days, several other States are expected to contribute.

The project to build the ChemTech Centre is on-going and seeks to strengthen the OPCW's capabilities to fully address new and emerging chemical weapons threats, as well as to support capacity building in OPCW Member States.

The current OPCW Laboratory and Equipment Store are central to the effectiveness and integrity of the verification regime of the Chemical Weapons Convention, and they also contribute to the OPCW's capacity-building and international cooperation activities.

However, the current facility will soon no longer be fit-for-purpose due to its ageing infrastructure, space constraints, larger workloads, and new missions with new areas of work.

A new facility is required to meet the demands of OPCW States for enhanced verification tools, improved detection capabilities and response measures, as well as increased capacity-building activities.

The ChemTech Centre will also help the OPCW to keep pace with developments in science and technology and new chemical weapons threats.

The OPCW Technical Secretariat is developing a detailed project plan for the construction of the ChemTech Centre, and a Trust Fund for voluntary contributions has been established to secure the required resources for the project.