September 2022 India Statement Agenda 6 Nuclear Applications
Check against delivery
International Atomic Energy Agency
Board of Governors’ Meetings
(September, 2022)
Agenda Item - 6
Strengthening the Agency’s activities related to nuclear science, technology
and applications
Statement by the Governor for India
Ambassador Jaideep Mazumdar
Chairperson
We associate with the Statement of the G-77 and China delivered by thedistinguished Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco and would like to add a few additionalremarks in our national capacity.
1. We appreciate the Agency's role in this area with special emphasis onsupporting the development of nuclear applications in Member States witha view to strengthening infrastructure and fostering science, technologyand engineering for meeting sustainable development goals.
2. We welcome the Agency’s efforts in supporting member states embarkingon new nuclear technologies, in addition to those with existing nucleartechnologies.
3. We also appreciate the steps taken by the Agency in relation to innovativereactor systems, including fast neutron systems, high temperature reactorsand thermo-nuclear experimental reactors that would lay the foundationfor Member States to plan construction and operation of these systems inthe coming decade.
4. The support provided by the Agency in relation to the small modularreactors (SMRs), to develop key enabling technologies, would enhanceenergy availability and supply both in expanding and embarking countries.We encourage the Agency to continue its support in this area as SMRs havethe potential to play an important role in diverse applications.
5. We note the Agency’s activities in the area of fusion science andtechnologyand take noteof the Third Research Coordination Meeting onData for Atomic Processes Related to Neutral Beams in Fusion Plasma as a virtual event in November2021. India has been actively participating in theITER project having made important contributions and would continue to be actively involved in it.
Chairperson
6. India believes that apart from reactor technology, the Agency’sprogramme and achievements under nuclear applications in food andagriculture, human health and nutrition, water resource management,protection of the environment, and industry are important in meeting theaspirations of developing countries. In this context, the Agency´s support toMember States in the field of medical and industrial radioisotopes andradiopharmaceuticals production and in exploring the use of acceleratorsfor various radiation technology applications deserve special mention.
7. We also appreciate the Agency’s collaborations and joint initiatives withvarious United Nations organizations, including WHO, to address the issuesof malnutrition and non-communicable diseases.
8. India has developed a National Cancer Grid (NCG) with the broad vision ofcreating uniform standards of cancer care across the country, comprising ofall the stakeholders in cancer care, including cancer centres, researchinstitutes, patient advocacy groups, charitable organizations andprofessional societies. Within a span of eight years, the National CancerGrid has become a powerful tool for prevention, diagnosis, and treatmentof this disease. There are more than 250 hospitals that are members of nationalcancer grid. India has also launched a Global Cancer Care Network namedas NCG-Vishwam 3C that will allow integration of hospitals and Cancer CareInstitutes from partner countries with the National Cancer Grid of thecountry. The objective is to remove disparity in cancer care globally. We note the synergy with the Agency’s ambitions in this area.
9. We welcome the strengthening of Agency’s cooperation with UnitedNations Organizations and its programs which would serve the cause ofaddressing climate change in a more effective manner. We take note of theagency's cooperation with OECD/NEA in the area of advanced nuclearsystems and their applications and its efforts to promote climate smart agriculture.
Chairperson
With these comments, our delegation endorses the recommended actionscontained in document GOV/2022/30-GC(66)/9.
I thank you.
