Category: Nuclear Weapons

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Update 182 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts based at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) have reported hearing numerous explosions over the past week, in a possible sign of increased military activity in the region that could also pose a potential threat to nuclear safety and security at the site, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said today.

Just over a year after the IAEA established a permanent presence at Europe’s largest nuclear power plant (NPP) to help prevent an accident there during the conflict in Ukraine, the overall situation at the facility remains highly precarious, Director General Grossi said.

Starting last Saturday, the IAEA team heard around two dozen explosions over three days, followed by several more in the last few days.  There was no damage to the plant itself.

“The reports I receive from our experts indicate that the explosions occurred some distance away from the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant. Nevertheless, I remain deeply concerned about the possible dangers facing the plant at this time of heightened military tension in the region,” Director General Grossi said, again stressing the importance of all parties adhering to the five concrete principles for the protection of the ZNPP.

“Whatever happens in a conflict zone wherever it may be, everybody would stand to lose from a nuclear accident, and I urge that all necessary precautions must be taken to avoid it happening,” he said.

Separately, the ZNPP informed the IAEA team that more drone strikes had taken place in the nearby city of Enerhodar – where many plant staff live with their families – in the morning of 7 September. No casualties were reported. In addition, the IAEA team was informed that the ZNPP had decided to temporarily reduce the number of personnel on the site to minimum levels over the next few days due to concerns of a higher risk of military activities in the area.

At the plant, the IAEA experts observed the continued presence of mines between the perimeter fences, but they did not see any additional ones during their walkdown activities across the site. However, they have still not been granted access to the rooftops of reactor units 1, 2, 5 and 6. The IAEA team has also been requesting a walkdown of all six turbine halls, one after the other, to be able to fully assess, at one time, whether there may be any items present that may be in contravention of the five principles. At present, this request has not been granted.

“To monitor compliance with the five principles, we must be able to have full access,” Director General Grossi said.

Three months after the downstream Kakhovka dam was destroyed – causing the depletion of the huge reservoir that the ZNPP had been relying on to cool its reactors and spent fuel – the plant continues work on expanding access to other sources of water, for example through the drilling of groundwater wells. So far, seven such wells of a planned total of 10-12 have been completed.

In recent days, the IAEA team observed – on two separate occasions – the operation of these wells supplying the sprinkler ponds, which are located next to the six reactors and used for the plant’s cooling functions.

The ZNPP has informed the IAEA team that the seven wells currently operating are accounting for just over half of the approximately 250 cubic metres of water per hour that are required to maintain the cooling water in the sprinkler ponds. This assumes all units remain in a shutdown state. The remaining volume of cooling water is currently pumped from the site’s drainage system. As a result of the new wells, the ZNPP also informed the IAEA that the height of the groundwater had only declined by a very minor level.

The IAEA team reported that the ZNPP is performing maintenance on different components and safety systems at the facility, whose six reactors remain shut down, one in hot shutdown and the others in cold shutdown.

On 4 September, a water leak was detected in a recirculation valve of the essential service water system in reactor unit 5. To repair this valve, the site had to place one safety train of unit 5 and one of unit 6 offline. After the valve was repaired, the safety train of unit 6 was returned to stand-by mode, while that of unit 5 was kept offline for maintenance work. Each reactor at the ZNPP has three separate and independent redundant systems (also called “safety trains”) that together comprise the units’ safety systems, which are normally in stand-by mode ready to activate if needed to maintain the reactor unit’s safety. One safety train alone is capable of maintaining the reactor unit’s safety.

Maintenance activities of the safety systems of unit 4 are also taking place, including of its transformer, heat exchangers and emergency diesel generators. Once they are completed, the site will conduct the final test of the steam generator that was repaired after a water leak was detected in this unit last month.

Over the past week, the IAEA team also conducted other walkdown activities within the site perimeter, including at the main control room, emergency control room and the safety systems rooms of unit 6 and the turbine hall of unit 3 where the team reported that there was no military equipment present at the time of its visit. This morning the IAEA experts visited the turbine hall of reactor unit 1 where they observed a total of fifteen vehicles, but no heavy weapons.

The ZNPP continues to receive off-site power from the last remaining 750 kilovolt (kV) power line and a single 330kV backup power line. The IAEA experts were informed by the ZNPP that the site currently does not have any information on the status of repairs of the damaged off-site power lines as they all pass through the military conflict areas.

Elsewhere in Ukraine, rotations of the IAEA experts have been conducted this week at the Khmelnitsky, Rivne and South Ukraine NPPs and a rotation of the team at the Chornobyl site is scheduled for next week. The IAEA teams at the four sites did not report any nuclear safety or security issues.

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Press Arrangements for IAEA Board of Governors Meeting starting 11 September 2023

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

The IAEA Board of Governors will convene its regular September meeting, starting at 10:30 CEST on Monday, 11 September in Boardroom C in the C building in the Vienna International Centre (VIC). 

Board discussions are expected to include, among others: nuclear and radiation safety; nuclear security; strengthening the Agency’s activities related to nuclear science, technology and applications; verification and monitoring in the Islamic Republic of Iran in light of United Nations Security Council resolution 2231 (2015); application of safeguards in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea; implementation of the NPT safeguards agreement in the Syrian Arab Republic; NPT Safeguards Agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran; nuclear safety, security and safeguards in Ukraine; transfer of the nuclear materials in the context of AUKUS and its safeguards in all aspects under the NPT; restoration of sovereign equality in the IAEA;  application of IAEA safeguards in the Middle East and Personnel matters related to staffing of the Agency’s Secretariat and Women in the Secretariat. 

The Board of Governors meeting is closed to the press. 

Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi will open the meeting with an introductory statement which will be released to journalists after delivery and posted on the IAEA website. The IAEA can also provide video footage upon request and will make photos available on Flickr. 

Press Conference: 

Director General Grossi is expected to hold a press conference at 13:00 CEST on Monday, 11 September, in the Press Room of the M building. 

A live video stream of the press conference will be available. The IAEA can provide video footage from the press conference upon request and will make photos available on Flickr. 

Photo Opportunity: 

There will be a photo opportunity with the IAEA Director General and the Chair of the Board, Ambassador Ivo Sramek of the Czech Republic, before the start of the meeting on 11 September at 10:30 CEST in Board Room C, in the C building in the VIC. 

Press Working Area: 

The Press Room on the ground floor of the M building will be available as a press working area from 09:00 CEST on 11 September. 

Accreditation: 

All journalists are requested to inform the IAEA Press Office of their plans to attend. 

Journalists with permanent credentials to the VIC need no additional credentials. We encourage those journalists who do not yet have permanent accreditation to request it at UNIS Vienna. Other journalists who plan to attend only this event should email press@iaea.org stating their name and affiliation as soon as possible but not later than 12:00 CEST on Friday, 8 September. 

Please plan your arrival to allow sufficient time to pass through the VIC security check. 

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IAEA Profile: Rola Ghneim Khreis, the IAEA’s First Woman Director of Information Technology

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Khreis’s first mentor was her father. He was a school principal who fostered a supportive academic environment at home. “He always gave me the same opportunities as my brothers. He strived to help me develop skills applicable to any discipline, such as critical thinking, analysis and self-expression,” she said. “He made me who I am.”

As in many STEM fields, there were few women studying technology at her university, and Khreis was frequently the only woman in her class. “It was often challenging, but I would just become more determined, and this made me stronger,” she recalls.

After a few years working in the private sector in Lebanon, Khreis moved to Austria where she had her first professional experience in an international organization as an IT Consultant at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). She embraced the multicultural environment.  

Motivated by the IAEA’s impact on many aspects of people’s lives, Khreis joined the Agency in 1998 as IT Coordinator and Project Manager. Later, as IT Service Manager and then Unit Head of IT Services Design, she worked on the implementation of IT service management best practices to support Agency staff. In 2014, she became Head of the Client Services Section, a position she held for ten years. “Through this role, I had the privilege of working directly with all departments to understand their needs and decide how to best serve them,” she said.

Today, Khreis manages 120 staff and leads the use of digital capabilities at the IAEA to add value through IT. Khreis describes her role as “an enabler, leveraging technology to enable business outcomes and to drive operational efficiency.” By collaborating closely with colleagues across the organization, she uses her understanding of their specific needs to ensure that IT investments are aligned with the organization’s strategic goals. “My aim is to make a difference to the Agency’s work by understanding how we can support stakeholders from an IT perspective to do their work more easily and more efficiently, to enable them to be more effective in what they do,” she said.

Going forward, Khreis aims to identify areas where digital transformation initiatives and innovation can further enhance work processes and overall efficiency, focusing on areas such as artificial intelligence, data management, analytics, visualization and decision making capabilities.

When asked about her professional achievements so far, she said, “Being the IAEA’s first woman Chief Information Officer and Director of Information Technology is a great achievement, and I am also particularly proud of having built highly motivated teams throughout my career.”

Khreis attributes much of her career success to her persistence and the ability to recognize opportunities. In her view, a supportive environment for women depends very much on an organization’s leadership and policies that support gender equality, diversity and the elimination of bias. “I truly believe that diversity creates excellence,” she said.

Khreis advocates for girls and young women to pursue studies in IT and believes this needs to start at home by encouraging them to explore scientific fields and building confidence in their abilities with a ‘you can do it’ attitude. “Women have always faced challenges in STEM-related fields, and that includes women in IT,” she said. Khreis coaches younger colleagues and regularly promotes the field through IT workshops for 11- to 16-year-old girls during the annual Vienna Daughters’ Day event.

Khreis’s advice to young women beginning their professional journey in this evolving field is to “embrace your passion and be resilient. Obstacles and setbacks are natural in any career, but don’t let anyone stop you. Be confident and remember that challenges often create great opportunities.”

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IAEA and St. Jude Look to Increase Global Access to Radiotherapy for Children with Cancer

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

The IAEA, through its Rays of Hope initiative, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, through its Global Alliance, are exploring ways to work together to save children’s lives through access to quality radiotherapy and diagnostic imaging. IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi and James R Downing, President and CEO of St. Jude, signed a letter of intent on 14 August to establish a partnership on expanding access to radiotherapy for childhood cancer.  

“Many children around the world do not have access to cancer care simply because of where they live, and we can change that,” Mr Grossi said. “We are proud to be working together with St. Jude, a global leader in the research and treatment of childhood cancer and other life-threatening paediatric diseases.”

St. Jude was established in 1962, and since then, the hospital has helped to improve childhood cancer survival rate from 20 per cent to 80 per cent in the United States of America.

“The mission of St. Jude is to advance cures and means of prevention for paediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment,” Dr Downing said. “To accomplish this in low- and middle-income settings will require increasing access to diagnostics imaging and radiation oncology. Working collaboratively with IAEA through their Rays of Hope initiative, we will accelerate the implementation of these modalities into the treatment plan for children everywhere.”

Around the world, an estimated 400 000 children and adolescents develop cancer each year. Nearly 90 per cent of these children live in low- and middle- income countries, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Survival in these countries is less than 30 per cent, compared with 80 per cent in high-income countries.

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Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellows Trained in Nuclear Security

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Women from around the world took part in an International School on Nuclear Security at the IAEA in August. It was the fourth time the school had hosted fellows from the IAEA Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme (MSCFP) since the launch of the programme in 2020. The MSCFP aims to support the next generation of women leaders in the nuclear field through scholarships, internships, and training and networking opportunities.

“This is a unique programme introducing nuclear security to participants,” said Marina Labyntseva, Head of the Education and Training Development Unit in the IAEA Division of Nuclear Security. “Through a series of lectures, demonstrations and practical exercises, participants learned about the national nuclear security regimes, and what prevention, detection and response to nuclear security threats actually means.”

Within the last three years, a total of 169 MSCFP recipients from various educational backgrounds in the field of nuclear science and technology have participated in the school. This year, 56 fellows from 46 countries attended the school, both in person and virtually.

The school is designed to provide participants with a fundamental knowledge of nuclear security, and was co-funded by the European Union and the United States of America.

“As a nuclear engineering student, I have mainly focused on technical aspects of my studies and work. However, attending the school has taught me about the broader significance of nuclear security. I am now intrigued to learn more on nuclear security,” said Razia Nushrat from Bangladesh.

Throughout the two week programme from 31 July to 10 August, the fellows attended a series of training activities that paired informative lectures with hands-on demonstrations. For example, by using virtual reality tools to explore a 3D model of a nuclear facility, the fellows simulated responses to nuclear security threats. The participants also visited the IAEA Nuclear Security Detection and Monitoring Equipment Laboratory and the Incident and Emergency Centre.

“I have learned that a multidisciplinary and integrated approach is necessary for nuclear security,” said Adriana Jiménez Amorós, MSCFP fellow from Bolivia, adding that “the school helped me clarify multiple concepts used in the nuclear field.”

An integral component of the school was to bridge the gap between education, training and professional networking in the field of nuclear security. To this end, the school’s programme included a high level panel discussion on empowering and inspiring youth to lead in the nuclear sector and a Women in Nuclear Security Initiative panel discussion on the importance of gender equality and diversity in nuclear security.

“As someone who was involved in the engineering side of the nuclear industry, it was very enriching to be able to converse with highly qualified specialists with different expertise,” said Manal El Abidi, a participant from Morocco. “The nuclear security school gave me access to relevant opportunities for future training and mentorship.”

Promoting gender equality in the nuclear field

The IAEA is committed to providing early and mid-career women professionals with opportunities to advance their technical and leadership skills through programmes such as the Lise Meitner Programme and the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme.

The IAEA’s Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme provides financial support for women enrolled in master’s programmes in the nuclear field. You can apply for the 2023 Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme here until 30 September.

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Update 181 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Today marks one year since the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General, Rafael Mariano Grossi, visited Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) for the first time and established the IAEA Support and Assistance Mission to Zaporizhzhya (ISAMZ). The permanent presence of IAEA experts at ZNPP has been essential in reducing the likelihood of a nuclear accident.

The IAEA has also provided ongoing assistance and monitoring in Ukraine since the start of the war, including missions, experts at all Ukraine’s nuclear power plants (NPPs), facilitating international financial support, and information sharing.

“As I said one year ago, having the IAEA permanently present at the ZNPP is of great value. There is no doubt that this presence was a game changer,” Director General Grossi said. “The presence of the ISAMZ team at Europe’s largest nuclear power plant on the front lines of war has been a crucial part of the IAEAs activities to monitor the situation and assist Ukraine.”

“The presence of the IAEA was essential in helping to stabilize the situation and keeping the world informed about Zaporizhzhya NPP. I am particularly proud of the courageous staff who carry out this important work, as well as those at the other Ukraine NPPs and the Chornobyl site,” Director General Grossi added.

In order to prevent a nuclear accident that could affect people and the environment, it continues to be of paramount importance that the five basic principles for the protection of the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant are respected and adhered to, Director General Grossi said.

The anniversary comes just one day after a successful tenth ISAMZ rotation, with IAEA experts once again crossing the front line as the teams departed and arrived at the plant.

During the previous rotation on 3 August 2023, IAEA experts had been granted access to the reactor rooftops of units 3 and 4, which allowed them to verify that no mines or explosives were placed there or on the rooftops of the turbine halls. The ISAMZ team, therefore, expected similar access to the rooftops of the remaining four units during the current rotation. However, no such access was granted this time.

Director General Grossi reiterated the importance of IAEA experts being granted timely access to all areas of the ZNPP to monitor full compliance with the five basic principles.

The IAEA experts continue to hear explosions and the sounds of military activity taking place some distance away from the ZNPP. The ISAMZ team was informed by ZNPP that a drone had hit a residential building in Enerhodar on 23 August and that no casualties were reported. The IAEA experts confirmed that these events had no impact on the site. Director General Grossi said that these are yet another reminder of potential nuclear safety and security risks facing the facility during the military conflict in the country.

Unit 4 at the ZNPP has been in cold shutdown since 12 August after a water leak was identified in one of the four steam generators. The cause of the water leak has been repaired, initial tests were successfully performed, and further testing is ongoing. Unit 6 remains in hot shutdown for steam production on site. Units 1 to 5 remain in cold shutdown.

As previously reported, the Ukraine national regulator – SNRIU – has issued regulatory orders to limit the operation of all six units to a cold shutdown state.

In addition to the maintenance work that was performed on the steam generator, the site is performing other maintenance activities on the safety and electrical systems of the reactor units.

The team was informed, however, that there has been a considerable reduction in maintenance staff – currently at about one-third in comparison to before the armed conflict in Ukraine began — raising further concerns about the ability of the site to properly maintain the systems, structures and components important for nuclear safety and security at the plant. ZNPP said that new staff had been recruited, but it would take time for them to complete training and gain the necessary experience to work on the site – though they added that maintenance contractors from Rosenergoatom can attend at short notice to assist in the performance of maintenance tasks.

The ZNPP’s large cooling pond and its other main supply of water – the discharge channel of the nearby Zaporizhzhya Thermal Power Plant (ZTPP) – remain intact, the IAEA experts said. The height of the ZNPP cooling pond continues to drop by about one centimetre per day while water from the ZTPP inlet channel is regularly pumped into its discharge channel to compensate for water used for cooling or lost through natural evaporation. The site continues to have sufficient cooling water available for many months.

The team continues to monitor the construction of wells close to the plant’s sprinkler ponds. There are now four wells in operation after the fourth well was drilled this week. ZNPP has informed ISAMZ that it intends to build a total of 10-12 wells around the sprinkler ponds in the coming weeks, which will then become the main source of cooling water for the six shutdown reactor units and spent fuel pools.

The IAEA team also continues to conduct regular walkdowns across the site. Over the past ten days, the experts have visited: the main control room, emergency control room and other safety-related rooms of unit 1, as well as the unit’s reactor hall, main pumps, steam generators, and safety system rooms; the main control room, emergency control room and other safety-related rooms of unit 4; the plant perimeter and two of the on-site radiation monitoring stations.

During these walkdowns, the team observed the presence of military trucks in the turbine hall of unit 1, but they did not observe any mines or explosives other than those previously reported.

In addition, the team visited the ZNPP 750 kilovolt (kV) open switchyard on 25 August and observed that all possible repairs had been completed and the yard was preparing for winter. Only one of the four 750kV off-site power lines remains connected, however, most recently on 10 August this power line was disconnected twice during the day, leaving the site to rely on off-site power from the backup 330kV line.

IAEA experts maintain a continued presence at Ukraine’s other NPPs and the Chornobyl site. The IAEA will conduct rotations at Rivne, Khmelnitsky, and South Ukraine NPPs next week.

This week the Agency delivered medical supplies to the Chornobyl NPP site bringing the total deliveries to Ukraine to 22 since the conflict began in February 2022. The medical supplies will be of benefit to the ChNPP personnel, and also to Agency staff present at the site. They were procured with funds provided by Germany.

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IAEA Director General Grossi Sees “Impressive” Work in Sweden to Store Spent Nuclear Fuel Deep Underground

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi descended deep underground in coastal Sweden this week to study the Nordic nation’s advanced preparations to store its spent nuclear fuel safely and securely for many thousands of years, saying they demonstrated the availability of technical solutions for managing such used radioactive material at a time of growing global interest in nuclear energy. 

On the third day and final day of his official visit to Sweden, Director General Grossi travelled to the country’s south-east yesterday to visit the Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory 500 metres below ground, located on an island north of the town of Oskarshamn and near one of its nuclear power plants. Sweden has six reactors generating nearly a third of its electricity but is planning to build more.

At the laboratory, the Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Company (SKB) has for decades been carrying out cutting-edge geological research in realistic conditions for the planned construction – at the Forsmark site further north – of a final repository for thousands of tonnes of spent fuel generated by Sweden’s nuclear industry over the past half century.

The Swedish government has approved the plan and SKB – owned by the nuclear plant operators – aims for the facility to be operational in the 2030s. In neighbouring Finland, the nuclear fuel repository at Onkalo is expected begin operating in the next few years. Both will use the KBS-3 method largely developed at the Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory and the nearby Canister Laboratory, which Director General Grossi also visited yesterday.

The method is based on three protective barriers: copper canisters, bentonite clay and bedrock. Once the final repository stands ready, the spent fuel – currently stored in an interim facility in Oskarshamn – will be encapsulated in copper canisters and transported by sea to Forsmark, where they will be placed in tunnels half a kilometre underground.

“More countries around the world are planning to introduce nuclear power or – like Sweden – expand existing programmes to fight climate change and ensure energy security. In this context, it is very important that people know that the spent fuel and radioactive waste the nuclear sector is generating is managed in a sustainable and responsible way,” Director General Grossi said.

“Countries like Sweden and Finland – with decades of nuclear power experience – are leading the way on how to do it, also ensuring that the local communities hosting the sites are engaged, informed and in favour of these important projects,” Director General Grossi said.

Opinion polls cited by SKB show that a large majority in the municipalities that will host the final repository and the associated encapsulation plant support the construction of these facilities.

“Few industries are investing as much time and resources in taking care of its waste as the nuclear sector. Engaging with local stakeholders is key in this context. Without local backing, it would be very difficult to pursue the final disposal of spent nuclear fuel. Sweden is showing it is possible to gain the confidence of the local communities, which is very important,” he said.

Director General Grossi said the work carried out at the two laboratories was a “magnet” for international interest and indicated that the IAEA would step up its cooperation with the facilities so that other countries could benefit from their expertise and experience.

“I’m very impressed and encouraged by what I saw here,” he said.

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Director General’s Remarks at Executive Meeting for Regulators and Licensees in Medical and Industrial Purposes

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Headline: Director General’s Remarks at Executive Meeting for Regulators and Licensees in Medical and Industrial Purposes

(As prepared for delivery)

Good morning, Ladies and Gentlemen.

I am very pleased to be with you today at the start of my third visit to Indonesia as IAEA Director General.

Indonesia is an advanced user of nuclear technology and, indeed, shares its expertise with other countries in a number of fields.

A key role of the IAEA is to make nuclear science and technology available to countries to assist them in achieving their development goals.

Nuclear safety and security are national responsibilities. But countries recognise the importance of international cooperation in these areas, and the Agency is the forum through which this cooperation takes place.

The IAEA has a vital role to play in enabling countries to share experiences and best practices.

Nuclear safety and security are priority areas in our budget, alongside technical cooperation. We work closely with national regulators such as BAPETEN.

National regulators and the IAEA worked together closely in the aftermath of the Fukushima Daiichi accident in 2011. Global nuclear safety has been significantly strengthened since then.

I encourage all Member States to ensure broad application of the Agency’s safety standards, which are based on global knowledge and experience.

Despite the Fukushima Daiichi accident, global use of nuclear power continues to grow.

I understand that the Government of Indonesia has been considering introducing nuclear power, but that no final decision has been made.

The IAEA does not try to influence countries’ decisions on whether or not to add nuclear power to their energy mix.

But if countries decide to proceed, we provide every assistance so they can use nuclear power safely, securely and sustainably.

I constantly stress to both existing users of nuclear power, and to newcomers, the importance of having strong and independent regulators, operating under a robust legal framework.

These are vital for ensuring a high level of nuclear safety and nuclear security.

The IAEA has led international expert teams on visits to Indonesia’s research reactors. We also work together closely on nuclear security, for example in the run-up to the 18th Asian Games, which will take place here this year.

Safety and security are extremely important in all uses of nuclear technology, not just in nuclear power.

For example, the IAEA assists countries in ensuring that both patients and staff are protected when radiotherapy or nuclear medicine procedures are being carried out.

I encourage you to make full use of Agency peer review and advisory services, and of the education and training we offer.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The IAEA greatly values our cooperation with Indonesia and with BAPETEN in particular. We look forward to strengthening and deepening that cooperation in the coming decades.

Thank you.

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Director General’s Remarks at Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Headline: Director General’s Remarks at Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education

(As prepared for delivery)

Thank you, Mr Minister.

I am very pleased to be with you all today at the start of my third visit to your country.

The IAEA greatly values our cooperation with Indonesia.

We have worked with you for six decades to make nuclear science and technology available to assist you in meeting your development goals.

I am pleased that Ambassador Djumala is Chairman of the IAEA Board of Governors this year. I know the Agency’s business is in good hands.

Indonesia is an advanced user of nuclear technology in many areas and shares its expertise with other countries.

We are grateful for your active support for IAEA technical cooperation projects – in Papua New Guinea, for example – and through the international network of veterinary laboratories known as VETLAB.

I also thank you for your contribution to the modernisation of the IAEA nuclear applications laboratories near Vienna.

This is making excellent progress. The new laboratories will greatly strengthen the support we are able to provide to our Member States for decades to come. 

I follow with interest the IAEA technical cooperation projects being implemented in Indonesia.

These cover many areas, including child nutrition; air pollution; producing radioisotopes for use in radiotherapy; rehabilitation of flooded farmland, and seafood safety.

Our work together on improving soyabean production and upgrading the small scale tempeh industry is of special interest. I am sure it will contribute to improving food security in your country – and I hope it will also make consumers happy!

I understand that a project team from BATAN is being considered for an award for Best Practices in the IAEA technical cooperation programme.  Congratulations!

Indonesia’s approach to promoting the use of nuclear techniques to end-users in the field of food and agriculture is exemplary.

Mr Minister,

Let me conclude by thanking you once again for your hospitality.

The IAEA looks forward to strengthening and deepening our cooperation with Indonesia in the coming decades.

Thank you.

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Nuclear Technology for Sustainable Development

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Headline: Nuclear Technology for Sustainable Development

(As prepared for delivery)

Good afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen.

I am very pleased to be back in Indonesia and to speak at this distinguished university. This is my third visit to your country since I became IAEA Director General eight years ago.

Bogor Agricultural University has built up a strong reputation for the quality of its teaching and research. I understand the University was established in 1963, which makes you just a little younger than the IAEA. The Agency turned 60 last year.

In the public mind, the IAEA is associated primarily with our work to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons – perhaps also with the assistance we provided after the Fukushima Daiichi accident in 2011.

But, in fact, our work covers almost everything to do with nuclear science and technology.

Nuclear technology plays a much bigger role in our daily lives than most people realise. From the microchips and battery in your smartphone, to the tyres on your car and the electrical cables in your home – items such as these are routinely treated with radiation.

Radiation technology helps to prevent food from spoiling. It can be used to monitor pollution, identify buildings which may be in danger of collapse after earthquakes, and reveal cracks in the wings of aircraft. 

And, of course, nuclear technology plays a key role in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and other major diseases.

Today, I will give you a brief overview of the IAEA’s work to enable developing countries to use nuclear technology to improve the well-being and prosperity of their people.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The IAEA motto is Atoms for Peace and Development. The Agency was established in Vienna in 1957 and now has 169 Member States. Transferring nuclear technology to developing countries is core Agency business and one of the most important areas of our work.

The IAEA contributes directly to the achievement of nine of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

Nuclear science and technology help countries to reduce poverty and hunger, generate electricity, manage water resources, treat diseases such as cancer and respond to climate change – and much more.

IAEA support is not primarily about handing over equipment. We focus on transferring knowledge and expertise. High-quality technical training helps countries to build their own expertise so they can train future generations of nuclear specialists. 

Indonesia was a founding member of the Agency in 1957 and is an important partner in many areas of our activities. Indonesian Ambassador Djumala is Chairman of our Board of Governors this year.

We have an active technical cooperation programme here, which is based on Indonesia’s needs and priorities, as determined by your country.

The list of areas in which we work together is too long for me to mention everything. But it includes developing new varieties of food crops such as rice, sorghum and soyabeans; child nutrition; air pollution; producing radioisotopes for use in radiotherapy; rehabilitation of flooded farmland, and seafood safety.

Let me give you a few examples.

You may have heard that the city of Bandung won the title of ASEAN Environmentally Sustainable City last year. The city’s use of nuclear techniques to monitor air pollution contributed to that achievement.

The IAEA worked for many years with scientists from your National Nuclear Energy Agency, BATAN, providing equipment and expert advice on the use of two nuclear analytical techniques to measure and analyse pollutants in the air.

As a result of the data obtained, Bandung tightened its regulations on the burning of agricultural and household waste and began educating citizens about the harmful effects of burning their waste.

IAEA specialists also worked with Indonesian counterparts on developing new varieties of soyabeans by using what we call radiation-induced mutation techniques.

By applying radiation to seeds, it is possible to accelerate a mutation process that occurs spontaneously in nature and to develop new varieties of crops faster than through traditional plant breeding methods. Desired characteristics, such as resistance to drought or high yield, can be selected.

As you may know, last year, your Ministry of Agriculture selected a variety of soybeans developed by scientists at BATAN for mass seed production and distribution among farmers. The favourable traits of the new soyabeans include resistance to flood and submergence.

Nuclear techniques are thus making an important contribution to improving food security in Indonesia.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The incidence of non-communicable diseases such as cancer is growing at an alarming rate in many developing countries.

Asia has the highest burden of cancer in the world. Some 55% of global cancer deaths occur in this region and the trend is rising. Sadly, Indonesia is no exception.

The IAEA works to help countries acquire both the equipment, and the medical and technical expertise, they need to treat cancer effectively.

We advised the Government of Indonesia on the development of a national cancer control programme. The goals include expanding the availability of radiotherapy services in all provinces.

We provided training for medical physicists, who are vital members of the radiotherapy team, and helped to establish a teleconference system which allow doctors at hospitals around the country to consult each other on individual cancer cases.

Specialist training – for doctors, medical physicists, radiologists, nurses and researchers – is at the heart of what we do. We have unique e-learning initiatives which enable specialists to receive high-quality training without having to make costly trips abroad.

A follow-up IAEA expert mission, known as an imPACT review, took place in Indonesia last month to advise on any additional measures that might be needed under the national cancer control programme.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Energy is indispensable for development. Huge increases in energy supply will be required in the coming decades to support economic development and lift more than two billion people out of energy poverty.

Nuclear power can help to address the twin challenges of ensuring reliable energy supplies, while curbing greenhouse gas emissions. Today, nuclear power produces 11 percent of the world’s electricity. But when it comes to low-carbon electricity, nuclear generates almost one third of the global total.

Nuclear power plants produce virtually no greenhouse gas emissions or air pollutants during their operation, and very low emissions over their entire life cycle.

The use of nuclear power reduces carbon dioxide emissions by about two gigatonnes per year. That is the equivalent of taking more than 400 million cars off the road – every year.

Frankly, it is difficult to see how the world will be able to meet the challenge of securing sufficient energy, and mitigating the impact of climate change, without making more use of nuclear power.

Thirty countries are already using nuclear power. Around 30 more are considering building their first nuclear power plants, or have started doing so. Most of these possible newcomers are developing nations.

I understand that the Government of Indonesia has been considering introducing nuclear power, but that no final decision has been made.

The IAEA does not try to influence countries’ decisions on whether or not to add nuclear power to their energy mix. But if countries decide to proceed, we provide every assistance so they can use nuclear power safely, securely and sustainably.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Partnerships are at the centre of the IAEA’s approach to assisting developing countries.

For example, we work closely with the World Health Organization on non-communicable diseases, and with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN on improving food security.

Our nuclear applications laboratories in Vienna, which are presently being modernized, collaborate with hundreds of partner laboratories throughout the world, including in the Pacific region. We have close relationships with leading NGOs and with the private sector.

Our most important partners are, of course, our 169 Member States. They determine their national priorities and decide in what areas they wish to benefit from nuclear science and technology.

Our technical cooperation programme makes a real difference to the lives of millions of people in developing countries. In some areas, such as nuclear energy, safety and security, we are the leading international organization. In others, such as human health and food and agriculture, we play a supporting role – but a very effective one.

In all areas of our work, our goal is to achieve concrete results that make a clear difference to the lives of the people we serve.

The IAEA delivers.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I have concentrated today on activities of the IAEA relevant to socio-economic development.

As I mentioned earlier, a key additional IAEA function is to verify that States are fully complying with their non-proliferation obligations and to confirm that nuclear material is being used for peaceful purposes. We also help countries, including Indonesia, with nuclear safety and security.

I will be happy to take questions on these, or indeed on any aspect of the work of the IAEA.

Thank you.