Agenda Item 2: The Annual Report for 2018
International Atomic Energy Agency
Board of Governors’ Meetings (June 10, 2019)
Agenda Item 2: The Annual Report for 2018
Statement by the Governor for India
Ambassador Renu Pall
Madam Chair,
We associate ourselves with the Statement made by the distinguished Ambassador of Egypt on behalf of G-77 and China and would like to add the following remarks in our national capacity.
Madam Chair,
The overview of the work contained in the Annual Report for 2018 is testimony to the fact of the ever increasing role of the Agency. India supports the different functions of the Agency and attaches great importance to the Agency’s work in different fields of nuclear science. My delegation would like to highlight the increased demand for nuclear technologies by Member States for peaceful applications with a view to meet their sustainable development goals. We will continue to 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 through deputing its experts and offer training slots for experts from Member States in reputed institutions in India.
Madam Chair,
India pursues a low-carbon growth model and considers nuclear power as an important contributor for addressing its climate goals and is fully committed to the Paris Agreement. As part of our overall energy security and clean energy policy, India plans rapid expansion of nuclear power generation capacity over the next decades.
We compliment the Agency for organizing the International Conference on Climate change and the role of nuclear power in October this year in Vienna. India looks forward to a strong signal emerging from the conference for integrating nuclear power in the climate solution. We encourage the Agency to further emphasize the role of nuclear power in the mitigation of climate change by using various channels at its disposal.
Madam chair,
India successfully hosted the 27th IAEA Fusion Energy Conference (FEC 2018) in October. Over 700 experts from 39 Member States and 4 international organizations participated in the event. The Agency’s role in facilitating scientific collaboration and as a depository of information was well recognized by the participating States.
Madam Chair,
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.
Madam Chair,
With these comments, we take note of the Annual Report for 2018, as contained in document GOV/2019/15 and endorse its transmission to the General Conference.
Thank You.
