Agenda Item 2: The Annual Report for 2017
As delivered
International Atomic Energy Agency
Board of Governors’ Meetings (June 4, 2018)
Agenda Item 2: The Annual Report for 2017
Statement by the Governor for India
Ambassador Renu Pall
Mr. Chairman,
We associate ourselves with the Statement made by the distinguished Ambassador of Ecuador on behalf of G-77 and China and would like to add the following remarks in our national capacity.
Mr. Chairman,
Nuclear power remains an important option to meet the challenges of increased energy demand, address concerns about climate change, redress volatile fossil fuel prices and ensure security of the energy supply. In this context, the IAEA’s International Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Power in Abu Dhabi played a significant role in bringing policy makers, scientists, technologists and environmentalists together to examine the prospects of nuclear power. The Agency needs to continue its programmes of support to Member States embarking on or expanding their nuclear energy programmes and, most importantly, support Member States in enhancing their capacity to build public acceptance for nuclear energy.
India attaches great importance to the Agency’s work in different fields of nuclear science. We contribute to these activities through participation in the Technical Meetings and Coordinated Research Projects. The Agency’s program and achievements under Nuclear Applications in food and agriculture, human health and nutrition, water resources management, protection of the environment, etc. are helpful in meeting the needs of developing countries. India will continue to provide its support to these Agency programs by way of services of experts and offer training slots in reputed institutions in India for experts from Member States.
Mr. Chairman,
Advanced fission reactors, including fast reactors, contribute towards more efficient use of nuclear fuel, and towards reducing radioactive waste volumes. Delegates from India participated actively and exchanged information on new developments and experience in the field of fast reactors and related technologies during the International Conference on Fast Reactors and Related Fuel Cycles in Russian Federation.
Thorium based fuel cycles and technologies present opportunities for enhanced passive safety features, utilization of the larger natural resources of Thorium, and its inherent proliferation resistance. International collaboration under the IAEA would help provide a much wider resource base for future nuclear technology development in this direction. In this context, we note issuance of the IAEA-TECDOC-1819, Benchmark Analysis of EBR-II Shutdown Heat Removal Tests, which will help Member States to verify and validate their simulation tools for safety analysis of sodium cooled fast reactors.
We also support the Agency’s program on nuclear fusion. We would like to inform that India is hosting the 27th IAEA Fusion Energy Conference (FEC 2018) this year in October in Ahmedabad. The conference will provide a forum for the discussion of key physics and technology issues as well as innovative concepts of direct relevance to the use of nuclear fusion as a source of energy. With the participation of several international organizations as well as the collaboration of more than forty countries and several research institutes, including those working on smaller plasma devices, we expect this Conference to identify possibilities and means for continuous and effective international collaboration in this area.
Mr. Chairman,
We take note of the Agency’s work in improving global safety and security. In this regard, we appreciate the review and publications of safety standards and security guidance that sets an international reference for nuclear safety and security.
Mr. Chairman,
With these comments, we take note of the Annual Report for 2017, as contained in document GOV/2018/14 and endorse its transmission to the General Conference.
Thank You.
