42nd IAEA General Conference

Russian Federation, E.O. Adamov, Minister for Atomic Energy

The speaker began by emphasizing that the benchmark with which to assess future technological development should be a technology’s capacity to contribute to sustainable development. He recalled the commitments made at the 1997 Kyoto forum, expressing the view that fulfilment of these commitments would require new approaches of a political, economic or technical nature. At present the only realistic option is to intensify efforts to develop a safe, environmentally-acceptable and economically-viable nuclear energy sector. The concern of the Russian Federation is to identify the optimal means of developing the nuclear power industry. At the last General Conference, the Russian delegation reported on the use of fast reactors with inherent safety systems. The initial implementation phase of a project on inherently safe reactors has been completed in Russia. Various demonstration initiatives and development projects are expected to reach conclusion this year. Keeping the public informed on new conceptual designs will assist the development of peaceful uses of atomic energy. In this regard, the speaker welcomed the Scientific Forum as a means to elaborate recommendations on how to use nuclear power to meet the environmental and energy challenges of the next century. During the preparatory stage of the next meeting to discuss the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol, an international conference should be held under the auspices of the IAEA to review the spectrum of electricity production and consumption issues. The solutions to the nuclear power industry’s problems are often seen in terms of large-capacity plants, but in fact, the development of small and medium power reactors as well as nuclear-powered desalination facilities hold much promise. The Russian Federation intends to construct a floating nuclear power and district heating plant in the city of Pevek to supply northern Siberia with heat and electricity; it is ready to cooperate in the development of such facilities to be operated on the basis of so-called "build-down" operation. The participation of the IEA in the peer review of this project would be welcomed. Both operating and decommissioned nuclear installations deserve equal attention from the Agency in terms of safety, economic competitiveness and extension of service life; however, nuclear power development has largely been subordinated to the Agency’s safeguards activities; without diminishing of non-proliferation, the speaker noted with regret the Agency’s shift away from the promotion of nuclear power development. The speaker asserted that one key component of IAEA activity is the coordination of research in the area of nuclear power and the consolidation of efforts to revive it. Similarly, as always, nuclear safety should receive priority; the results of the first Review Meeting on the Convention on Nuclear Safety, and the International Conference on Strengthening Nuclear Safety in Eastern Europe were encouraging in this regard. The Agency’s work on the different aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle, particularly the back end of the fuel cycle, deserve approval and support. The Russian Federation has relied on the support of the IAEA Contact Expert Group (CEG); unfortunately, there have been no appreciable results from the CEG activities to date. The effective management of fissile weapon materials is regarded by the Russian Federation as a high priority. Transforming such material for peaceful uses is a worthy goal. While the Agency responds well to proposals for cooperation on this matter, more could be done. The joint efforts of Russia, the USA and the IAEA on the trilateral initiative are of great importance. The Russian Federation appreciates the IAEA safeguards activities. One positive outcome of Agency activities in the area of non-proliferation is that the system for safeguarding the use of declared fissionable materials is established and operational. The establishment of an integrated safeguards system would also have positive results; however, the implementation of additional safeguards should not impose additional burdens on states which have signed agreements to apply the Model Protocol. States must not be restricted in their right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. One way to ensure that the fruits of nuclear power development are not used for military purposes would be to ensure that new technologies cannot be applied for the latter purpose. The fuel cycle itself should be developed in such as way as to rule out the possibility of its being used for proliferation purposes. One other priority for the Agency should be to promote nuclear power as the technology of the future and create opportunities for experts from countries considering the nuclear energy option to gain expertise. The Agency should caution developing countries not to repeat the mistakes of the developed states by automatically reproducing existing nuclear power systems.

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Russian Federation, E.O. Adamov, Minister for Atomic Energy



The speaker began by emphasizing that the benchmark with which to assess future technological development should be a technology’s capacity to contribute to sustainable development. He recalled the commitments made at the 1997 Kyoto forum, expressing the view that fulfilment of these commitments would require new approaches of a political, economic or technical nature. At present the only realistic option is to intensify efforts to develop a safe, environmentally-acceptable and economically-viable nuclear energy sector. The concern of the Russian Federation is to identify the optimal means of developing the nuclear power industry. At the last General Conference, the Russian delegation reported on the use of fast reactors with inherent safety systems. The initial implementation phase of a project on inherently safe reactors has been completed in Russia. Various demonstration initiatives and development projects are expected to reach conclusion this year. Keeping the public informed on new conceptual designs will assist the development of peaceful uses of atomic energy. In this regard, the speaker welcomed the Scientific Forum as a means to elaborate recommendations on how to use nuclear power to meet the environmental and energy challenges of the next century. During the preparatory stage of the next meeting to discuss the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol, an international conference should be held under the auspices of the IAEA to review the spectrum of electricity production and consumption issues. The solutions to the nuclear power industry’s problems are often seen in terms of large-capacity plants, but in fact, the development of small and medium power reactors as well as nuclear-powered desalination facilities hold much promise. The Russian Federation intends to construct a floating nuclear power and district heating plant in the city of Pevek to supply northern Siberia with heat and electricity; it is ready to cooperate in the development of such facilities to be operated on the basis of so-called "build-down" operation. The participation of the IEA in the peer review of this project would be welcomed. Both operating and decommissioned nuclear installations deserve equal attention from the Agency in terms of safety, economic competitiveness and extension of service life; however, nuclear power development has largely been subordinated to the Agency’s safeguards activities; without diminishing of non-proliferation, the speaker noted with regret the Agency’s shift away from the promotion of nuclear power development. The speaker asserted that one key component of IAEA activity is the coordination of research in the area of nuclear power and the consolidation of efforts to revive it. Similarly, as always, nuclear safety should receive priority; the results of the first Review Meeting on the Convention on Nuclear Safety, and the International Conference on Strengthening Nuclear Safety in Eastern Europe were encouraging in this regard. The Agency’s work on the different aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle, particularly the back end of the fuel cycle, deserve approval and support. The Russian Federation has relied on the support of the IAEA Contact Expert Group (CEG); unfortunately, there have been no appreciable results from the CEG activities to date. The effective management of fissile weapon materials is regarded by the Russian Federation as a high priority. Transforming such material for peaceful uses is a worthy goal. While the Agency responds well to proposals for cooperation on this matter, more could be done. The joint efforts of Russia, the USA and the IAEA on the trilateral initiative are of great importance. The Russian Federation appreciates the IAEA safeguards activities. One positive outcome of Agency activities in the area of non-proliferation is that the system for safeguarding the use of declared fissionable materials is established and operational. The establishment of an integrated safeguards system would also have positive results; however, the implementation of additional safeguards should not impose additional burdens on states which have signed agreements to apply the Model Protocol. States must not be restricted in their right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. One way to ensure that the fruits of nuclear power development are not used for military purposes would be to ensure that new technologies cannot be applied for the latter purpose. The fuel cycle itself should be developed in such as way as to rule out the possibility of its being used for proliferation purposes. One other priority for the Agency should be to promote nuclear power as the technology of the future and create opportunities for experts from countries considering the nuclear energy option to gain expertise. The Agency should caution developing countries not to repeat the mistakes of the developed states by automatically reproducing existing nuclear power systems.