Category: Global Bodies

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Director General in Ecuador to Support Nuclear Power Plans, the Galapagos and More

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Alongside energy, the Director General and Foreign Minister Sommerfeld also discussed how IAEA initiatives to promote the benefits of nuclear science are supporting Ecuador’s progress in many key development areas.  

High on the agenda was cancer care, where IAEA flagship initiative Rays of Hope is increasing  access to radiotherapy in the country. During his trip, Mr Grossi visited Carlos Andrade Marin Hospital where he was pleased to see “how IAEA efforts and local investment in cancer care — including access to radiotherapy — are making a life-changing difference.” 

Nuclear science is also a powerful tool to boost food security and strengthen food export potential, and the IAEA’s Atoms4Food is helping Ecuador and other countries battle invasive insect pests like Mediterranean Fruit Fly, make banana crops more resilient to disease and map water resources to ensure a sustainable supply. 

NUTEC Plastics, the IAEA initiative to use nuclear science to monitor and reduce marine plastic pollution, is also of relevance to the coastal country. During his trip, the Director General exchanged on the importance of tackling plastic pollution in valuable ecosystems, such as Antarctica where he recently launched microplastics research, and the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador where the IAEA has helped establish one of the world’s leading laboratories in microplastics. He also met with a range of local partners already working with the IAEA on the archipelago to preserve biodiversity and work for a healthier ocean. 

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IAEA Launches SMR School as Africa Looks to Nuclear Energy

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

A fraction the size of large reactors, SMRs are under development around the world, with China and Russia having already deployed their first units. With lower upfront costs and flexibility to work in tandem with renewables such as solar and wind, SMRs are expected to make nuclear power a more accessible option amid a global consensus on expanding nuclear power that emerged in 2023 at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai.  

The inaugural SMR School was the first event for high level officials covering key aspects of SMRs, including technology development and demonstration, legal frameworks, stakeholder engagement, and safety, security and safeguards.  

“The technical presentations, discussions, and shared experiences deepened our understanding of SMR deployment and regulatory considerations,” said Rasheed Adeola Ogunola of the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission. “We also appreciated learning about the publications and services available to support Member States in building safe and effective nuclear programmes. This knowledge will directly inform our next steps as we progress through the nuclear power programme development milestones.” 

“As countries seek clean and reliable solutions to their energy and development challenges, they are increasingly looking to nuclear energy as an option, particularly SMRs,” said Dohee Hahn, IAEA Platform Coordinator. “The new IAEA SMR School aims to fill a critical gap for countries in better understanding the array of issues involved in the development and deployment of this promising new technology.” 

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International Day of Plant Health: Suppressing Fruit Flies in Africa

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Sharing Sterile Insect Technique Experiences

To leverage this new infrastructure, a workshop on using the SIT for integrated pest management was held in Agadir, Morocco at the end of April under an IAEA technical cooperation project aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity to improve food security in Africa.

Experts from 16 African countries gathered to discuss and share experiences on implementing surveillance and suppression of fruit flies by integrating the SIT with other control methods. The workshop included lectures, visits to the Mediterranean fruit fly mass-rearing facility, the irradiation and the fly emergence and release facilities, and a visit to field operations where surveillance and SIT field activities are being implemented.

Minimizing Pesticides

Using SIT alongside other control methods provides the citrus industry with sustainable  methods that minimize pesticide residues in fruit and preserve the agricultural landscape. The SIT both reduces pest infestations and enables farmers to improve the quality of citrus fruits planned for export to existing and new international markets.

Tephritid fruit flies are considered among the world’s most notorious pests of horticultural crops, causing extensive direct and indirect damage. Due to the intensification of international fruit trade, the African continent is also highly vulnerable to alien invasive fruit fly species such as Bactrocera dorsalis which bring significant damage to mangoes — up to 90 per cent of the harvest can be lost depending on the location, cultivar and season.

“Most African Member States now face an enormous challenge due to the introduction of Bactrocera dorsalis in Africa in 2003, which closed many international markets and increased damage to fruit,” said Rui Cardoso Pereira, entomologist at the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture.

Strengthening Agricultural Systems in Africa

Citrus production areas where  sterile Mediterranean fruit flies are released (Photo: R. Cardoso Pereira/FAO/IAEA)

One critical aspect of the IAEA support with SIT is managing pests that affect economically important crops. The countries participating in the workshop reported on pest surveillance and control activities, including SIT application, in their respective countries and explored how these techniques are harmonized using guidelines produced by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and IAEA. This includes guidelines on adult and larval surveillance, quality control of mass-produced insects as well as the International Standards on Phytosanitary Measures.

The IAEA is helping countries boost food security with its Atoms4Food initiative. The IAEA has joined forces with the FAO to help provide countries with ground-breaking solutions, such as SIT, to tackle growing hunger around the world.

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Study Reveals Potential of Seaweed Farms as Carbon Storage Solution

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

The role of Blue Carbon in climate change mitigation and adaptation is an emerging research field. As more data becomes available, stakeholders in policy and the private sector can use it to develop sustainable policies and pioneering climate technologies.

“Seaweed farming offers a scalable, nature-based solution for carbon removal while delivering co-benefits such as biodiversity enhancement, economic opportunities and food security,” said Carlos Duarte, the study’s lead author and Oceans 2050’s Chief Scientist.

The number of seaweed farms around the world is increasing. Seaweed is gaining popularity as food, and is also used in medicines, cosmetics and fertilizers. Around 35 countries worldwide carry out commercial harvesting of seaweed, in water ranging from cold, through temperate to tropical.

As the world grapples with the impacts of excess greenhouse gas emissions, scientists are urgently seeking potential solutions. Moving forward, additional studies are needed to determine carbon accumulation rates worldwide. In support of efforts to contribute to a greater understanding of a global Blue Carbon inventory, the IAEA works to transfer knowledge and build capacity in countries around the world.

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Update 290 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) has once again lost the connection to its only remaining back-up power line, underlining the continued fragility of the electrical grid during the military conflict, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said today.

The latest disconnection of the 330 kilovolt (kV) power line – which occurred just before noon local time on Wednesday – left the plant entirely dependent on its last functional 750 kV power line for the electricity it needs to cool its reactors and for other essential nuclear safety and security functions. According to Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy, the disconnection occurred as a result of military activities.

“A secure supply of off-site power from the grid for all nuclear sites is one of the seven indispensable pillars of nuclear safety and security that we outlined early in the war. It is obvious that this supply is far from being secure. The vulnerability of the grid remains a deep source of concern for nuclear safety at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant as well as elsewhere in Ukraine,” Director General Grossi said.

Before the conflict, the ZNPP had access to a total of ten external power lines, both 750 and 330 kV. The site has lost all off-site power eight times during the conflict.

The IAEA team based at the ZNPP continued to hear explosions at distances far away from the site on several days over the past week.

The team has continued to monitor and assess nuclear safety and security at the plant, in recent days conducting a site walkdown, confirming the water levels in the sprinkler ponds, and observing the testing of an emergency diesel generator. The team also visited the nuclear safety related electrical breakers and instrumentation, and control cabinets of units 3 and 4.

Director General Grossi said he was in daily contact with both sides to organize the next rotation of IAEA experts at the ZNPP. The current team, ISAMZ27, has been at the plant for more than two months now. The previous rotation, conducted in early March, was also delayed because of difficult conditions on the ground.

“The IAEA’s continuous presence at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, since September 2022, has been of vital importance for our efforts to help prevent a nuclear accident during the war. However, getting our staff to and from the site – located on the frontline – has become more complicated in recent months. In the coming days, I will continue to engage intensively with both sides to find a solution, which is urgently needed. My overarching priorities are the safety of my staff and the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant,” Director General Grossi said.

At the Chornobyl site, investigations to determine the extent of damage sustained by the New Safe Confinement (NSC) arch are ongoing following the drone attack in mid-February.

It took several weeks to completely extinguish the fires caused by the strike. The emergency work resulted in approximately 330 openings in the outer cladding of the NSC arch, each with an average size of 30-50 cm.

According to information provided to the IAEA team at the site, a preliminary assessment of the physical integrity of the large arch-shaped building identified extensive damage, for example to the stainless-steel panels of the outer cladding, insulation materials as well as to a large part of the membrane – located between the layers of insulation materials – that keep out water, moisture and air.

In addition, the IAEA team was informed that the NSC’s main crane system (MCS), which includes the crane north maintenance garage area, was damaged by the drone strike and is currently not operational. The MCS is one of the building’s main systems. The crane maintenance garage area houses several electrical cabinets for various systems, most of which were affected by the drone incident and by the water used to put out the resulting fires.

The NSC’s other systems – providing relevant safety functions such as radiation monitoring, seismic monitoring, decontamination and radioactive waste management, power supply, and fire protection – remain functional, the IAEA team was informed.

While the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems remain functional, they are not in service after the drone incident, the Chornobyl site added.

“We are gradually getting a more complete picture of the severe damage caused by the drone strike. It will take both considerable time and money to repair all of it,” Director General Grossi said.

On a more re-assuring note, there still has been no increase in radiation levels measured at the Chornobyl site, indicating there was no release of radioactive materials as a result of the strike.

At Ukraine’s three operating nuclear power plants (NPPs) – Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine – five out of their total of nine units are currently operating and generating electricity. The four other reactors are in various stages of shutdown for planned maintenance and refueling, of which two are expected to restart soon.

The IAEA teams based at the three operating NPPs and the Chornobyl site have continued to report about air raid alarms on most days over the past week. The team at the Khmelnytskyy NPP had to shelter on the site in the morning of 30 April.

As part of the IAEA’s assistance programme to support nuclear safety and security in Ukraine, the Khmelnytskyy NPP and Energoatom’s Centralized Spent Fuel Storage Facility received radio-communication systems, procured with funding from the European Union. In addition, USIE Izotop – a Ukrainian state enterprise involved in the management of radioactive material intended for medical, industrial and other purposes – received software for dose assessments and related calculations, funded by New Zealand. This brings the total number of deliveries to 135 since the start of the conflict.

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Avoiding Cosmic Rays: Monaco’s Underground Laboratory

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Natural radiation from space can interfere with measuring radioactivity in scientific samples. The IAEA built an underground lab to minimize this interference and allow precise measurements. In Monaco, heavily-shielded detectors check for tiny amounts of radioactivity in marine samples collected globally, helping countries assess their marine environments.

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Nuclear Desalination: A Sustainable Solution for Water Security in the Arab Region

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Jordan: Advancing SMR-Powered Desalination

Jordan, where 75 per cent of the land is classified as arid desert, is taking significant steps toward nuclear desalination. The government is exploring Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), compact reactors that could power desalination plants. In 2023, an IAEA team evaluated Jordan’s studies on using SMRs to provide drinking water from the Red Sea to Amman, where water demand is rising.

“Desalination is considered the primary source of fresh water in Jordan to fulfil the expected demand and reduce the supply-demand deficit,” says Khalid Khasawneh, Commissioner for Nuclear Power Reactors at the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC). “It offers competitive prices for fresh water to end consumers, in comparison with imported energy sources.”

Saudi Arabia: The Desalination Leader Exploring Nuclear

Saudi Arabia, already the world’s largest desalinated water producer, began exploring the use of nuclear energy for desalination in the late 1970s. As part of its strategy to move from an oil-based economy toward a diversified power production, the country is now considering nuclear plants to achieve its net zero ambitions and meet its long-term water needs.

According to the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (KACARE), “the Kingdom is planning a sustainable energy mix that includes atomic energy to meet the energy needs of the Kingdom to produce electricity, desalinated water and thermal energy,” which aims to reduce reliance on hydrocarbons and support economic growth.

Egypt: Nuclear Power and Water Strategy

Egypt is also integrating nuclear technology into its water strategy. With the country’s first nuclear power plant, El-Dabaa, under construction, discussions are underway about pairing nuclear energy with desalination in coastal regions. According to the Egyptian State Information Service: “Nuclear energy contributes to enhancing energy security and achieving environmental balance and water security.” As “nuclear facilities can supply the energy required for desalination plants to produce potable water.”

Kuwait: Exploring Nuclear Desalination for Sustainable Water Solutions

Kuwait, which depends heavily on seawater desalination to meet its freshwater needs, is increasingly turning to nuclear technologies to find more sustainable solutions for water and the environment. “Kuwait is facing the effect of climate change, ocean acidification, pollution from the oil and shipping industry, power and desalination activities,” said Nader Al-Awadi, the Executive Commissioner for International Cooperation at the Kuwait Institute of Scientific Research (KISR). In line with its efforts to address these environmental challenges, Kuwait has also established a large-scale facility to carry out research on ocean acidification, aiming to further understand the impacts of changing ocean conditions on marine ecosystems, which are directly tied to the effectiveness of desalination technologies.

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Call for Abstracts Deadline Extended: International Conference on Emergency Preparedness and Response

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

“This conference provides a unique platform to bring together stakeholders from across the EPR community to discuss best practices, future trends and new technologies to enhance emergency preparedness,” said Carlos Torres Vidal, Director of the IAEA Incident and Emergency Centre, which is organizing the event. “By fostering international cooperation and sharing insights, we aim to help countries bolster their emergency response capabilities in a rapidly changing world.” 

“Saudi Arabia is privileged to host this significant conference, organized by the IAEA, as part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen nuclear and radiological emergency preparedness nationally, regionally, and globally. Over the years, we have worked closely with the IAEA to advance capabilities and foster international cooperation in this vital field,” said Khalid Aleissa, Chief Executive Officer of the NRRC.  

“Through this conference, we aim to provide a platform for experts and decision-makers from all organizations involved in emergency response to collaborate, exchange insights, and shape the future of nuclear emergency preparedness and response, ensuring readiness for the challenges of an evolving world,” he added. 

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Call for Abstracts Deadline Extended: Conference on Radiation Protection in Medicine — X Ray Vision

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

(Graphic: P. Gregory/IAEA)

The deadline to submit abstracts for scientific posters for the IAEA’s International Conference on Radiation Protection in Medicine — X Ray Vision to be hosted in Vienna, Austria from 8 t0 12 December 2025, has been extended to 30 May 2025.   

The conference, co-sponsored by the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization, will extend on the achievements of previous IAEA conferences on the topic held in 2012 and 2017 focusing on the radiation protection and safety of patients and health professionals undergoing or using radiation to diagnose and treat health conditions.

The latest research shows that about 4.2 billion medical radiological examinations are performed each year, and this number continues to grow: for example, more computed tomography (CT) scanners are being installed in clinics around the world to replace conventional X ray procedures, while in nuclear medicine therapy, there is increasing use of radionuclides for treating metastatic cancer cells. In addition, an estimated 6.2 million courses of radiation therapy treatment are performed each year. New medical radiation technology and procedures continue to be developed. 

“The conference will review significant global developments in the radiation protection of patients and health professionals taking into account current trends and advances in medical radiation technology and procedures,” said Hildegarde Vandenhove, Director of the IAEA Division of Radiation, Transport and Waste Safety.  

“By bringing together experts in the field we aim to identify future challenges and opportunities so that we can all benefit from the latest technologies in the safest possible way,” added Vandenhove.  

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Family Driven: Enhancing Global Standards of Radiation Protection of Patients

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Rizk’s journey in radiation protection and dosimetry started in 2005 when, after completing her master’s degree in Material Science and Electronic Components in 2004, she was offered the job of Technical Manager at the Individual Monitoring Laboratory at the Lebanese Atomic Energy Commission.  

There she oversaw the safe occupational radiation exposure of more than 6000 workers across over 400 healthcare facilities, industrial companies and research centres.  

“It is important to know what dosimetry is and its importance,” Rizk says, explaining that “it is the measurement and calculation of the radiation dose absorbed by the human body or other devices or objects. It is crucial in fields like radiology, nuclear medicine and radiation therapy to ensure safe and effective use of radiation.” 

She also achieved ISO accreditation for the Lebanese laboratory — the first of its kind in the Middle East — setting a new benchmark of standards and quality for radiation protection of occupationally exposed workers in the region. 

“Chadia’s efforts have made a lasting impact, consistently raising standards and enhancing practices in the field,” said Director General of the Lebanese Atomic Energy Commission, Bilal Nsouli, and Rizk’s former professor during her Master’s degree. 

In 2007, her collaboration with the IAEA began, initially as a fellow and later as a counterpart in four projects under the technical cooperation programme. Rizk worked with the IAEA on individual monitoring and regulatory compliance to improve occupational radiation protection in Lebanon in line with the IAEA International Basic Safety Standards.  

“Despite limited resources, she remained steadfast in her commitment to providing dosimetry services according to international standards and her passion for radiation protection research has always stood out,” reflects Filip Vanhavere, Radiation Protection Research Coordinator at the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre who worked with Rizk on an IAEA mission to the Lebanese laboratory.