Vienna Chapter
Mr. Chairman,
The Group of 77 and China thanks the Secretariat for bringing out a comprehensive
update on the Nuclear Technology Review as contained in document GOV/2007/3
and DDG Sokolov and DDG Burkart for introducing the item. The Group would also
like to thank the Secretariat for the briefing on 26 February 2007. The Group
takes this opportunity to commend the Secretariat for the conduct of the Workshop
on 'Issues for the introduction of Nuclear Power' in December 2006 and also
thanks the Department of Nuclear Energy for their briefing and arrangement for
the visit to the Nuclear Power Plant at Temelin in the Czech Republic.
The document provides a broad world-wide perspective on nuclear technologies
for both power and non-power applications. It presents an analytical global
nuclear power growth scenario (both high and low) with IAEA mid-term projections
up to 2030 and International Energy Agency (IEA) projections up to 2050.
The Group notes that with regard to the share of nuclear power in the world's
electricity generation during 2006, the final data are likely to show a decrease
from the 16% it contributed in 2005. The mid-term projections for low and high
scenarios respectively indicate growth at the rate of 1.1% per year and a steady
growth at 2.6% per year up to 2030. The International Energy Agency (IEA) TECH
plus scenario suggests nuclear power's share of global electricity generation
to reach 22% with a steady growth up to 2050 at the same rate as in the IAEA
high projection. The Group considers that the Agency should work out appropriate
strategies in its future programmes to counter the identified obstacles in order
to realize this target of growth.
Mr. Chairman,
With regard to Nuclear Power as a viable source of Energy for Sustainable Development
and in light of the GC resolution on Nuclear Power, the Group considers that
the Agency, with availability of appropriate tools, can play a proactive role
at the 15th Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-15) in
New York in May 2007. Further, along with the international nuclear community,
the Secretariat should explore the possibility of including nuclear power among
the options for reducing emissions within the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).
The Group notes with satisfaction the growing membership (28) of Innovative
Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles (INPRO), which represents a cooperative effort
of both developed and developing Member States under the aegis of the Agency
and supports all its Phase-2 activities. The Group also encourages all complementary
efforts between INPRO and the Generation (IV) International Forum (GIF) initiative.
The Group, while recognizing that substantial Uranium resources are likely to
be available, is concerned with the significant increase in its prices. Under
these circumstances, the Group believes that the Agency should make all efforts,
inter alia, through Coordinated Research Projects or regional TC programmes,
to address issues related to mine development, improving fuel behavior during
longer dwelling times for increasing average burn up and the associated material
requirements while bearing the cost/benefit factor in mind.
Mr. Chairman,
With regard to the management of waste from spent fuel, the Group notes with
satisfaction that there is a high level of confidence in both wet and dry storage
technologies and their ability to cope with rising volumes pending implementation
of final repositories for all high level waste.
The Group notes with satisfaction the world-wide developments on Small and Medium-sized
reactors both in the context of power and non-power applications. The Group
supports all Agency activities envisaged under this area and believes that the
Agency should facilitate, to the extent possible, technical, legal, regulatory
and financial assistance to developing countries in particular, with small electricity
grids, planning to introduce nuclear power as a part of their energy mix.
The Group also notes with interest all developments under the International
Thermo-Nuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project and requests that it be kept
informed periodically of the progress made thereunder. It also notes the world-wide
activities under Advanced Fusion and Fission section and looks forward to the
evaluation of several types of reactors which will project nuclear power as
inherently safe, environmentally benign and economically viable source of energy
for sustainable development.
The Group appreciates all the Agency's efforts aimed at promoting Nuclear Knowledge
Management, and urges the provision of greater assistance to Member States,
particularly to developing ones, towards ensuring preservation of nuclear knowledge,
and meeting their education and training needs. In particular, the Group acknowledges
the Agency's International Nuclear Information System (INIS) which is playing
an important role as a knowledge management tool for a wide dissemination of
vital information necessary to ensure the safe utilization of the peaceful applications
of nuclear technology.
Mr. Chairman,
On the issue of assurances of fuel supply, the Group considers this issue as
a complex endeavor that would likely require a phased approach while addressing
in-depth, the associated technical, legal and financial aspects. In this context,
the Group is of the view that it is premature for this issue to be considered
by the Board before the various aspects and concerns have been adequately addressed.
The Group reiterates that the primary objective of the Nuclear Technology Review
is to highlight the notable developments in nuclear technology during the year.
It should remain a technical document and any reference to non-proliferation
is, in the Group's view, out of context. The Group is of the view that undue
concerns about proliferation should not hamper the development of nuclear science
and technology for the socio-economic uplift of the developing nations.
Mr. Chairman,
The Group notes with interest the progress in radiation technology and the new
applications and recalls that one of the three major international meetings
namely the International Meeting on Radiation Processing (IMRP 2006) was held
in Malaysia from 26 February to 3 March 2006. The Group would like to highlight
the increasing use of radiation processing for the property enhancement or for
the production of novel polymeric materials in industrial applications, as well
as in healthcare and biotechnology, particularly in regenerative medicine or
tissue engineering. In this regard, the Group would like to reiterate its call
to the Agency to continue providing technical support through the Technical
Cooperation programme, to developing member states in improving their radiation
processing capability and capacity.
With regard to accelerators and research reactors, the Group notes that specialised
accelerators, novel techniques and improved instrumentation are continuously
being developed to meet increasing demands in materials and biomedical research.
The Group recognizes the importance of research reactors for the production
of radioisotopes and other neutron beam applications, and notes the increasing
use of low energy cyclotron-produced fluorine-18 as fluorodeoxy glucose (FDG)
for positron emission tomography (PET) applications in the diagnosing and treatment
of various cancers. In this regard, the Group calls for the continuing support
of the Agency in providing equipment, technical expertise and capacity building
opportunities in these fields to developing Member States.
The Group notes the world-wide developments under Research Reactors and the
focus on applications related to radioisotope production, neutron beam applications
and material irradiation for nuclear energy systems besides teaching and training
for human resources development. The Group encourages increased regional collaboration
and networking, more effective management, utilization and sharing of resources
and expertise which are evolving for research reactor applications in the above
areas.
In view of the growth in nuclear medicine and radionuclide therapy and the technically
demanding requirements for radiological and pharmaceutical safety, the Group
encourages the Agency in its efforts to assist member states in meeting stringent
quality assurance standards in radiopharmaceutical production. In this regard,
the Group appreciates the efforts of the Agency in conducting the regional meeting
on the Future Direction and Work Planning for Implementation of Good Radiopharmacy
Practices and on 23 - 27 April 2007, in Shanghai, China.
Mr. Chairman,
The Group also notes with interest the growing request for the use of nuclear
databases in supporting nuclear applications in research, energy and in the
production of therapeutic radionuclides in nuclear medicine and thanks those
member states that have assisted in the Agency's efforts to compile such databases.
In the field of agriculture and nutrition, the Group is encouraged by the growing
progress achieved in the use of isotopic techniques and in the mutation induction
techniques for plant breeding. In this regard, the G77 and China underlines
the need for the Agency to continue its efforts aimed at improving and enhancing
the methodology for genome sequencing, creating possibilities for increasing
the number of crop varieties that are tolerant to harsh conditions. Livestock
productivity and health are being improved through the use of stable isotopes.
The Group encourages the IAEA in its work and in assisting member states in
projects related to animal nutrient uptake and as a consequence, to the optimization
of feeding regimes.
In view of the expanding use of Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) for the control
of major agricultural pests, including fruitflies and screwworm flies, the Group
reiterates its view that the Agency should continue its research and assistance
to Member States in the use of this environment-friendly technique to improve
their agricultural products, animal production and productivity. In this regard,
the Group encourages the Agency to enlarge the scope of SIT to combat other
pest insects such as malaria transmitting mosquitoes. In the same context, the
Group would like to see the IAEA consider the use of other nuclear techniques,
inter alia, stable isotope techniques, to help in the fight against locusts.
Bearing in mind the importance of the application of SIT for insect pest control
in developing countries, the Group encourages the Secretariat to address the
problems that it is facing and supports its work in this field. The Group also
requests the Secretariat to keep Member States updated in this regard.
In sub-section G of the report, on human health, the Group notes the combined
modalities for providing structural and molecular information in nuclear cardiology
using the PET-CT will continue to grow in the management of cardiovascular disease
worldwide. The Group also notes the new imaging techniques and their positive
impact on diagnoses and early disease assessment as well as for their use in
radiotherapy in determining accurate dose delivery to affected organs and reducing
the doses received by adjacent healthy tissues.
Mr. Chairman,
In this context, the Group wishes to reiterate the continuing importance of
the Programme of Action on Cancer Therapy (PACT) as a fund-raising activity,
equipment delivery vehicle and programme for assisting in the development of
national cancer strategies of developing states through imPACT missions, as
well as in establishing networks of cancer training centres. The Group wishes
to take this opportunity to thank Member States for their financial and other
contributions and pledges to PACT. The Group calls on Member States to help
provide for the financial needs of the PACT programme Office to enable it to
fulfil its mandate from the Board of Governors and in accordance with Board
decisions and General Conference resolutions.
The Group would like to encourage the Agency to continue assisting developing
Member States in human nutrition programmes focusing on preventing and treating
malnutrition such as through the use of stable isotopes for the assessment of
body composition and for measuring human milk intake in infants.
Mr. Chairman,
The Group of 77 and China notes with interest the efforts undertaken worldwide
in understanding the water cycle and climate in order to help in setting up
sustainable water resource management and preservation. In this regard, the
Group reiterates the need for assistance and expertise for detection of groundwater
and its management as well as in the field of desalination in order to respond
to the expanding global demand for fresh water, notably in developing countries
facing huge shortages. In this connection, the Group encourages the IAEA to
continue providing assistance, expertise, training and related equipment to
Member States.
On environmental issues, the Group is aware of the crucial role played by radiotracers
as cost effective tools for analysing the elemental composition of air particulate
matter with a view to addressing air pollution and climate change. The Group
also encourages the Agency to continue its work in the monitoring of the marine
environment and marine food chains for radionuclide and toxic metal contamination
to ensure the safety and quality of seafood.
Mr. Chairman,
The Group wishes to highlight the positive scientific role that the Agency can
play to address the negative global effects of climate change, as indicated
in Part H.1 of the report and in the additional information accompanying GOV/2007/3-
Nuclear Technology Review. In view of the alarming effect of the acidification
of the oceans and the related drop of carbonate ion concentration on corals
in particular, and marine life, in general, the Group wishes to encourage the
Agency to further enable developing countries to develop the use of radioactive
and stable isotopes and new nuclear techniques to address the challenges posed
by climate change.
In this regard, the Group also requests the Secretariat to include, in the
next Nuclear Technology Review, a section regarding the future role of the Agency
with regard to measuring the effects of climate change and its impact on sustainable
development, and the possible synergies of the Agency on this issue with the
respective scientific establishments of developing countries. With these comments,
the Group of 77 and China takes note of the document GOV/2007/3 and the recommended
action. Thank you, Mr Chairman.
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