Category: Nuclear Weapons

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IAEA Profile: A Woman’s Mission to Advance Nuclear Information Management

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Dibuleng Mohlakwana speaking at the ‘Innovative Technologies for Nuclear Information Management’ side event during the 68th IAEA General Conference in September 2024. (Photo: IAEA)

The IAEA profiles employees to provide insight into the variety of career paths that support the Agency’s mission of Atoms for Peace and Development and to inspire and encourage readers, particularly women, to pursue careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) or STEM-adjacent fields. Read more profiles of women at the IAEA.   

Technology is increasingly shaping how we share and retrieve information, and demand for information continues to grow. As a result, information science stands at the forefront of innovation and knowledge sharing.

“Information is key to driving performance in organizations, just like financial and human resources. Every decision relies on available data and information,” said Dibuleng Mohlakwana, Head of the IAEA Nuclear Information Section. “My mission at the IAEA is to help people make informed decisions and navigate the vast amount of information available today.”

With nearly 30 years of experience in information, knowledge and records management, Mohlakwana oversees the collection and management of nuclear information accessible to the IAEA and the public. Her role also involves introducing innovative tools and techniques to help the IAEA continuously improve how it shares, organizes and makes information accessible.

Born in Limpopo Province, South Africa, Mohlakwana grew up in a family of educators and agriculturalists. From a young age, her family instilled in her the value of hard work, resilience and education, as well as the independence to carve her own path. This gave her a strong foundation for pursuing her ambitions.

“Information science chose me,” Mohlakwana said. “At 17, I was drawn to information science while studying at the University of Limpopo. I realized effective information management is crucial for organizational success, motivating me to ensure that the right information reaches the right people at the right time.” She went on to earn a master’s degree in information and knowledge management and a PhD in information science.

Mohlakwana began her career as a librarian and credits her network and mentors for shaping her along the way.  Prior to joining the IAEA, she was Director of the eResearch Knowledge Centre in South Africa where she was responsible for research support, library and information services, and the accessibility of research outputs and data via an open access repository.

As her career progressed, Mohlakwana was motivated by the desire to help address international challenges, particularly energy solutions.

“As I witnessed the growing energy challenges in South Africa, from aging infrastructure to heavy reliance on coal, and the country’s need for solutions like nuclear power expansion, I realized that both the challenges and the solutions were not just local—but global,” said Mohlakwana. “Joining the IAEA was a chance to be part of something larger, to contribute to the global effort in shaping a more sustainable energy future for all.”

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IAEA Team Concludes Site and External Events Design Review for Ghana’s First Nuclear Power Plant

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

An IAEA team of experts visited the candidate site of Ghana’s first nuclear power plant during a Site and External Events Design Review Service mission. (Photo: Nuclear Power Ghana)

An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of experts has concluded an eight-day safety review of Ghana’s site selection process for its first nuclear power plant (NPP). Ghana is pursuing the introduction of nuclear power to increase its low carbon power production to meet energy demand, tackle climate change and increase energy security and diversity.

The Site and External Events Design Review Service (SEED) mission, which took place between 14 to 21 February, reviewed Ghana’s adherence to IAEA guidance on site selection. The SEED mission was the first of its kind to Ghana.

Ghana has successfully completed the site selection process and identified the candidate site and an alternative site for its first NPP. The next stage following site selection is the characterization stage of the site evaluation process.

The SEED mission was carried out at the request of the Government of Ghana and hosted by Nuclear Power Ghana (NPG), under the purview of the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition.

The team comprised four experts from Pakistan, Türkiye, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as one IAEA staff. They reviewed the site selection report, together with the siting process, siting criteria, data collection process and application of the management system for siting activities. The team also visited and observed the candidate site in the Western Region and the alternative site in the Central Region. In addition to the SEED review mission, the IAEA provided a SEED Capacity Building Workshop to support site evaluation. During the workshop, external experts and participants engaged in discussions that will contribute to future progress in the site evaluation process.

“We confirmed that both the implementing organization and the management system are well-designed with the support of the government and that the Site Approval Report has been systematically and thoroughly prepared. Ghana followed the IAEA safety standards while performing the site selection process,” said mission team leader Kazuyuki Nagasawa, Senior Nuclear Safety Officer at the IAEA.

The team provided recommendations to improve the quality and optimize the site selection process, aiming to select the most favourable site. This optimization seeks to minimize the potential of the selected site being found to be unsuitable during the site characterization stage. The factors for consideration include the susceptibility to earthquakes, flooding and extreme weather events, as well as the feasibility of the emergency plan.

As a good practice, the team noted that within NPG, leadership and management for safety have been functioning well since the beginning of the siting process.

“We acknowledge with deep appreciation the IAEA SEED mission’s technical assistance in assessing our site selection. This mission is of great importance to our nuclear power programme, as it ensures that our decisions are guided by international best practices for safe and secure development of nuclear power infrastructure. The relevance of the mission extends beyond technical assessment, reinforcing our commitment to transparency, regulatory preparedness and sustainable nuclear energy development” said Stephen Yamoah, Executive Director of NPG.

NPG will continue to receive ongoing technical assistance from the IAEA, while advancing the site approval process in accordance with the IAEA Specific Safety Guide on Site Survey and Site Selection for Nuclear Installations.

The final SEED mission report will be delivered to the Government of Ghana within three months.

About Site and External Events Design Review Service (SEED) missions

SEED missions are expert review missions that assist countries going through different stages in the development of a nuclear power programme. The service offers a choice of modules in which to focus the review, such as site selection, site assessment and design of structures, systems and components, taking into consideration site specific external and internal hazards.

In the case of site selection review, SEED missions assess the appropriate consideration of the safety issues in the site selection process.

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Director General in Japan Supporting Nuclear Safety and Remediation

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

During the Director General’s visit to Kashiwazaki Kariwa, Japan’s largest nuclear power plant, he viewed improvements in safety response and secure access facilities, as well as enhanced seismic and tsunami proofing.

There he met with TEPCO President Tomoaki Kobayakawa and Site Vice President Takeyuki Inagaki, a former IAEA safety officer who was working at the Fukushima Daiichi plant when it was struck by the tsunami in 2011.

“Needless to say, it was the most bitter experience in my life with many lessons learned that needed to be reflected,” said Mr Inagaki. “Now as Site Vice President of the Kashiwazaki Kariwa station, I am determined to never let such an accident happen again.”

After viewing the improvements at the station, the Director General spoke to local media, and said he was “very satisfied with the progress” he had seen.

“Nuclear safety and security are an everyday effort. One by one all the recommendations made by IAEA experts have been duly and correctly addressed here.”

During his trip, the Director General also joined an ongoing IAEA effort to monitor marine radioactivity near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station. On a boat off the coast in front of the station, Mr Grossi worked with scientists from the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, and Switzerland, to collect seawater samples together.

The samples will be now be analysed by the IAEA laboratories in Monaco, and national laboratories in Japan and the participating countries, each members of the IAEA’s Analytical Laboratories for the Measurement of Environmental Radioactivity (ALMERA) network, chosen to ensure a high level of proficiency.

Read more about the Director General’s sampling trip and the additional measures aim to facilitate broader participation in the monitoring of the ALPS-treated water being released from the station.

“Through these efforts, third parties can independently verify that water discharge levels are, and will continue to be, in strict compliance and consistent with international safety standards,” said Director General Grossi.

Additional remediation efforts being managed by Japan in the region are focused on soil removal and recycling, another area where the IAEA is providing safety guidance.

“In this area, the presence of the IAEA is as intense and systematic as in other areas in the decommissioning effort,” said Mr Grossi.

Read more about the IAEA’s safety review of Japan’s plan for the managed recycling and the final disposal of removed soil and radioactive waste around the Fukushima Daiichi site.

During his trip the Director General also met with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and other key political leaders, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Takeshi Iwaya, the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yoji Muto, and the Minister of Environment Keiichiro Asao.

Mr Grossi also had an extended meeting and joint press conference with Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, where they discussed their strong cooperation, and Japanese support to IAEA work, including non-proliferation worldwide, nuclear safety and security in Ukraine, cancer care through the Rays of Hope initiative, food security and more.

On his final day in the country the Director General strengthened IAEA cooperation with the Japanese private sector, by signing a practical arrangement with the Sumitomo Corporation and addressing the Japanese business federation, Keidanren. Read more about the meetings with industry here.

The Director General also signed practical arrangements on cooperation for IAEA educational and training activities with Sophia University and engaged with students and faculty members on IAEA contributions to global issues.

During his visit to Tokyo, Rafael Mariano Grossi also met with Japan Atomic Energy Agency President Masanori Koguchi and signed practical arrangements on cooperation for both nuclear power and non-power applications.

View images from the Director General’s entire trip.

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Strengthening New Partnership with Japanese Private Sector

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi and Sumitomo Corporation Representative Director, President and Chief Executive Officer, Shingo Ueno, signed a practical arrangement on future cooperation for sustainable uses of nuclear energy in Tokyo, Japan, 20 February 2025. (Photo: D. Calma/IAEA)

The IAEA Director General has signed a cooperation agreement with one of the largest worldwide integrated trading companies and had a lecture and networking event at Keidanren (Japan Business Federation) this week, as part of ongoing efforts to promote the peaceful uses of nuclear energy through partnerships.

Mr Grossi met with Sumitomo Corporation Representative Director, President and Chief Executive Officer Shingo Ueno and signed a practical arrangement on future cooperation for sustainable uses of nuclear energy. IAEA and Sumitomo Corporation aim to set forth the framework for cooperation in addressing global development challenges, particularly in the area of sustainable uses of nuclear related technologies for multiple areas, including healthcare, shipping, fusion and capacity building efforts.

Sumitomo Corporation is a Japanese integrated trading and business investment company, with 125 offices in 63 countries. Sumitomo Corporation Group consists of around 900 companies and 80,000 employees, covering a wide range of fields, including energy transformation.

The Director General then addressed Keidanren, which has a membership comprised of around 1,500 representative companies of Japan, over 100 nationwide industrial associations and the regional economic organizations for all 47 prefectures.

Mr Grossi met with about 30 high-level Japanese business representatives, from trading companies, private banks, insurance firms, nuclear plant construction companies, a commercial shipping company, energy association and more.

He gave a lecture on the IAEA flagship initiatives and his views on the expanding use of nuclear power in the world, including SMRs to enhance private companies’ understanding and networking.

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Update 277 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) has been relying on a single off-site power line for more than a week now after its only remaining back-up line was lost, once again highlighting an extremely fragile nuclear safety situation during the military conflict, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said today.

Nuclear power plants (NPPs) need a secure supply of external electricity to cool their reactors and for other essential nuclear safety and security functions. However, this has been a major challenge over the past three years, with the ZNPP temporarily losing all off-site power eight times.  

In the latest incident affecting the reliability of the supply of power from the grid, its sole 330 kilovolt (kV) back-up power line was disconnected on 11 February and has not yet been fully restored. This leaves Europe’s largest NPP entirely dependent on its only remaining 750 kV line. Before the conflict, it had a total of 10 power lines – six 750 kV and four 330 kV – available.

“The Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant still needs reliable supplies of off-site power for cooling purposes, even though its six reactors have been shut down for more than two years now,” Director General Grossi said. “The vulnerability of the external power situation remains a deep source of concern for nuclear safety.”

The ZNPP said the 330 kV line was disconnected last week due to the activation of the electrical protection system. The Ukrainian regulatory body informed the IAEA that it was the result of unspecified military activity and that the power line had been damaged. The IAEA team at the ZNPP currently continues to gather further information regarding the status of the back-up power supply to the site.

Further underlining the constant risks to nuclear safety, the IAEA team based at the site heard an explosion close to the ZNPP on 12 February, coinciding with unconfirmed reports of a drone attack approximately 300 meters from the site. The team has over the past week continued to hear other daily explosions at varying distances from the ZNPP. No damage to the site has been reported.

The IAEA team continues to carry out walkdowns across the ZNPP as part of the work to monitor and assess nuclear safety and security.

The IAEA remains in contact with both sides regarding the next rotation of IAEA personnel at the ZNPP, after it was delayed last week due to intense military activity in the area.

At the Chornobyl NPP site, firefighters are continuing to put out small fires that keep smouldering and spreading on the roof of the New Safe Confinement (NSC), after it was struck on 14 February by a drone that pierced a hole in the large structure built to cover the reactor destroyed in the 1986 accident.

The IAEA team based at the site, which was granted unrestricted access to examine the impact of the explosion, conducts regular walkdowns and radiation measurements to independently monitor the situation. The team’s measurements continue to show normal gamma radiation dose rate values near the NSC compared to those recorded by the IAEA since it established a continuous presence at the site just over two years ago.

The IAEA teams based at Ukraine’s other NPPs – Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine – have continued to report frequent air raid alarms over the past week and were also informed of the presence of drones within the areas surrounding the respective sites.

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Japan: IAEA Samples Water with Experts from China, Korea and Switzerland

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

The IAEA Director General and his team have been collecting water samples off the coast of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station, with scientists from China, Korea and Switzerland, as part of additional measures to promote transparency and build trust in the region, during the ongoing release of ALPS-treated water from the plant.

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IAEA Director General Joins International Experts for Seawater Sampling Near Fukushima

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi joined scientists from the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, and Switzerland, along with IAEA experts, as they collected seawater samples near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station. (Dean Calma/IAEA)

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi joined scientists from the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, and Switzerland, along with IAEA experts, as they collected seawater samples near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station (FDNPS) today.

The activity is part of the additional measures established after China and Japan agreed to extend the sampling and testing of ALPS treated water which TEPCO – operator of the FDNPS – started to discharge in August 2023.

The IAEA agreed with Japan in September to implement additional measures to facilitate the broader participation from other stakeholder countries in the monitoring of ALPS-treated water.

“By welcoming countries to engage directly in sampling and analysis under the additional measures, Japan is increasing transparency, understanding, and trust, particularly in the region.” said Director General Grossi. “Through these efforts, third parties can independently verify that water discharge levels are, and will continue to be, in strict compliance and consistent with international safety standards.”

During the sampling today, scientists from the Third Institute of Oceanography in China, the Korean Institute for Nuclear Safety in Republic of Korea and the Spiez Laboratory in Switzerland collected seawater samples from a boat in the vicinity of the FDNPS.

Director General Grossi collected seawater samples from a boat in the vicinity of the FDNPS.

The samples will be analysed by the IAEA laboratories in Monaco, by laboratories in Japan and in the participating laboratories from China, Korea and Switzerland, each members of the IAEA’s Analytical Laboratories for the Measurement of Environmental Radioactivity (ALMERA) network, chosen to ensure a high level of proficiency and expert data.

“Additional measures focus on expanding international participation and transparency, allowing hands-on independent measurements of the concentration level of the water,” said Director General Grossi. “This work is conducted within agreed parameters set by the IAEA in its role as an independent, impartial and technical organisation.”

Additionally, IAEA experts stationed at the Agency’s office at FDNPS conduct regular independent on-site analyses of the batches of treated water. The Agency has confirmed that the tritium level in the ten batches of ALPS treated water already released was far below Japan’s operational limit.

The IAEA initiated the first practical steps of the additional measures in October last year when Agency staff carried out marine sampling with international experts from China, Republic of Korea and Switzerland.

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Recycling old Radium into Cancer Drugs

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

An IAEA expert mission was deployed to Suva, Fiji, to support the recovery and transportation of radium-226 to the USA, where the sources will be used as a feedstock to produce actinium-225, an alpha-emitting isotope which is increasingly used in targeted cancer treatments. IAEA supports countries in managing legacy radium-226 sources under the IAEA’s Global Radium Management Initiative.

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Update 276 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Ukrainian firefighters have been working around the clock in freezing weather to completely extinguish small fires that still smoulder after Friday’s drone strike on the building containing the remains of the reactor destroyed in the 1986 Chornobyl accident, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said today.

The IAEA team based at the site was granted unrestricted access to the site of the explosion and conducted an extensive walkdown to assess the damage to the New Safe Confinement (NSC), where the drone that struck early yesterday morning pierced a hole through the roof of the large arch-shaped structure built to prevent any radioactive release from the damaged reactor and protect it from external hazards.

The IAEA experts saw smoke coming from the NSC roof and smelled burning plastic.

The ongoing efforts to put out and prevent the spread of any remaining fires – apparently fuelled by inflammable material in the roof cladding – have delayed work to start repairing the damage to the NSC, which was completed in 2019 on top of the sarcophagus that was erected in the immediate aftermath of the accident nearly four decades ago.

Despite significant damage caused by the drone impact, the IAEA team was informed that there had been no change in the radiation levels at the site. This was also confirmed by the team’s own measurements which showed normal dose rate values near the NSC compared to those that the IAEA has recorded since it established a continuous presence at the site just over two years ago.

“This was clearly a very serious incident, with a drone hitting and damaging a large protective structure at a major nuclear site. As I have stated repeatedly during this devastating war, attacking a nuclear facility is an absolute no-go, it should never happen,” Director General Grossi said.

“It is especially concerning as it comes as we are also seeing an increase in military activity in the area around the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant. The IAEA remains committed to doing everything we can to help prevent a nuclear accident. Judging by recent events, nuclear safety remains very much under threat,” he said.

During today’s walkdown at the NSC, the IAEA team members observed that a large area had been affected by the impact of the drone strike and the subsequent blaze. The team confirmed that both the outer and inner cladding of the NSC arch had been breached, causing a hole measuring approximately six metres in diameter and also damaging some equipment as well as electrical cables. However, the structural support beams did not appear to have suffered major damage.

The IAEA team was also shown some of the drone debris remaining at the site, including parts of the wings. The damaged drone had been removed by Ukrainian specialists and taken away for further analysis.

The team was informed that the plant plans to install additional sensors for measuring dose rates and aerosol concentrations near the area impacted by the drone. However, this task cannot be carried out until the remaining fires are totally eliminated to avoid damage to the sensors.

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Update 275 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

A drone attack early this morning caused a fire on the building confining the remains of the reactor destroyed in the 1986 Chornobyl accident, a deeply concerning incident that underlines the persistent risks to nuclear safety during the military conflict, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said.

The IAEA team based at the site – who heard the explosion at 01:50am local time followed by smoke and associated fire visible from their dormitory rooms – were informed by Ukraine that a drone had struck the New Safe Confinement (NSC), a large structure built to prevent any radioactive release from the damaged reactor unit 4 and to protect it from any external hazard.

Fire safety personnel and vehicles arrived at the scene within minutes to extinguish the blaze, which still could be seen intermittently for several hours afterwards.

The IAEA team could see a breach of the outer layer of the NSC that occurred following the detonation. Supplementary information from Ukraine’s regulatory body received this morning confirmed that the outer cladding of the NSC arch sustained damage, and investigations are ongoing to determine the status of the inner cladding.

Radiation levels inside and outside the NSC building remain normal and stable, the IAEA team was informed. There were no reports of casualties.

Coming soon after a recent increase in military activity near Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), Director General Grossi said it once again demonstrated that nuclear safety remains under constant threat for as long as the conflict continues.

“There is no room for complacency, and the IAEA remains on high alert,” he said. “I once again call for maximum military restraint around Ukraine’s nuclear sites.”

The IAEA will provide further updates about the situation at Chornobyl as relevant information becomes available.

Following this week’s cancellation of a planned rotation of IAEA staff based at the ZNPP, Director General Grossi said he was in contact with both sides to ensure safe passage of the Agency teams as soon as possible. The IAEA has been present at the ZNPP since September 2022 to monitor and assess nuclear safety and security and help prevent an accident.