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Agenda Item 3: Nuclear Technology Review - 2018
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Agenda Item 3: Nuclear Technology Review - 2018

INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY

BOARD OF GOVERNORS’ MEETINGS

(March 5 - 9, 2018)

Agenda Item 3: Nuclear Technology Review - 2018

Statement by The Governor For India

Ambassador Renu Pall

 

Madam Chair,

We associate ourselves with the statement delivered by the distinguished Representative of Iran on behalf of G-77 and China.

We note the statement in the Agency’s Nuclear Technology Review that nuclear power is a significant contributor for reducing greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, while fulfilling the increasing energy demands of growing populations and supporting sustainable development. The International Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Power in the 21st Century, held in Abu Dhabi last year, also highlighted that substantial nuclear power growth is needed for the world to meet its sustainable development and climate goals.

It is a matter of great satisfaction that the contribution of nuclear power in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, fighting climate change and in realization of the SDGs is gaining wider recognition. The global energy demands will continue to grow, and in order to ensure sustainable low-carbon energy generation, nuclear power will remain a credible option and an important component of future growth strategies of many countries.

India believes in the power of the atom to help achieve human and societal development. We have also consciously made the strategic choice to pursue a low-carbon growth model in the coming decades and we are fully committed to the Paris Agreement. As part of our overall energy security and clean energy policy, India has an ambitious plan of expansion of our nuclear power generation capacity over the next decades.

India’s decision to construct another 10 Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors in fleet mode and also 2 more reactors at Kudankulam will not only aid the objective of more carbon free electricity production, but also give a major boost to industries producing reactor related equipment in India.

With these reactors, we will now have 21 reactors under construction and 22 reactors in operation. This will increase the capacity to over 22,000 MWe by the end of next decade.   

Madam Chair,

To cater to the needs of expansion of our nuclear power programme, we are also stepping up our exploration and mining operations for the production of uranium.

On the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor front, after completion of construction, the commissioning activities are making steady progress while fulfilling all the safety requirements.

India is also continuing with technology development in the area of nuclear applications. In the Cancer care sector, we have started major expansion of facilities. 6 additional facilities are being constructed or upgraded. This will help in doubling the capacity of treatment for patients from the present figure of 70,000 per year within the next 4 - 5 years. We have established a cancer grid connecting over 108 hospitals and cancer research centres for providing uniform levels of diagnostic and therapeutic consultancy. We are also reorganizing ourselves to cater to further expansion in terms of research, education and patient care. 

In the frontier science area, we are establishing a small underground research laboratory in one of our uranium mines for pursuing research on dark matter.   

India has signed the Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement with Bangladesh in April last year, alongwith two complementary Agreements. We are collaborating with our Russian and Bangladeshi partners on establishing the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Bangladesh. 

We have also signed Civil Nuclear Cooperation agreements with Japan and Vietnam.

Madam Chair,

Taking note of Agency’s activities on geological disposal of high level radioactive waste and spent fuel, India will host the IAEA technical meeting on Underground Research Facility (URF) network at our Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership in May 2018.

India looks forward to IAEA’s continued leadership for fostering the safe, secure and sustainable use of nuclear energy in the future. We will continue to support IAEA in these endeavors.

With these comments, Madam Chair, we take note of Nuclear Technology Review 2018 as contained in the document GOV/2018/2.

Thank you.

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