Government ministers, policymakers, other senior officials and experts from around the world will gather at the International Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Power in the 21st Century to discuss the role of nuclear power and its contribution to energy security, climate change mitigation and sustainable development.
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, and Director General of the Nuclear Energy Agency of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD-NEA) William D. Magwood, IV, will hold a joint press conference on the first day of the IAEA Ministerial Conference, which will take place from 26 to 28 October in Washington D.C.
The three-day event will offer a forum for ministers and senior officials from IAEA Member States to present their national energy strategies and their visions for the role of nuclear power.
Today, nuclear contributes about 10% of global electricity production. According to the latest IAEA projections, world nuclear generating capacity could more than double by 2050. Climate change mitigation and energy supply security are key drivers for decisions to start, continue or expand the use of nuclear power.
Panel sessions will discuss nuclear power’s role in achieving net zero emissions as well as key issues related to the development and deployment of nuclear power, including the continued operation of the existing fleet, and technical innovations such as small modular reactors. One session will examine effective regulatory oversight for the safe, secure and sustainable use of nuclear energy.
The conference will be opened by Director General Grossi and Secretary Granholm who is also President of the Conference. Speakers will include OECD-NEA Director General Magwood and Sama Bilbao y León, Director General of the World Nuclear Association (WNA). Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), and Bill Gates, founder and Chairman of TerraPower, will deliver remarks via video.
The conference will also feature four InFocus events, including one in which Director General Grossi and Secretary Granholm will discuss gender balance in the nuclear field and another on youth reimagining nuclear power’s future that will showcase a selected finalist of the Generation Atomic Art Contest.
The conference is organized in partnership with the IEA and in cooperation with the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency. It is hosted by the Government of the United States of America through the Department of Energy.
Venue
The conference will take place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC.
Press opportunities
The conference is open to the media. The opening session on 26 October begins at 9:30 a.m. and will be followed by a press conference with IAEA Director General Grossi, Secretary Granholm, and OECD-NEA Director General Magwood starting at 12:00 p.m. The press conference will take place in room 208A/B on the first floor.
During the closing session on 28 October, President of the Conference Secretary Granholm will deliver a Statement summarizing the outcomes of the conference.
The press working area, which is located on the ground floor in Salon F, will be open during the whole duration of the conference.
Journalists may also monitor the event on live video streaming on the conference website.
Accreditation
All journalists are asked to request accreditation to the conference by emailing the IAEA Press Office at press@iaea.org by 15:00 CEST on Monday, 17 October.