IAEA Director General Visits Chile to Sign Agreements on Plastic Pollution and Lithium Mining

Mr Grossi said: “Nuclear science boosts Chile’s development in areas like health, food, security and environment. I look forward to furthering our collaboration.”

During the visit to Chile, Mr Grossi also met with Health Minister Ximena Aguilera Sanhueza and discussed expanding cancer care through training and nuclear medicine as part of the IAEA’s flagship Rays of Hope: Cancer Care for All initiative. Rays of Hope aims to close the global gap in cancer care by expanding access to treatments such as radiotherapy where the need is greatest.

Pleased to start my first visit to Chile as @IAEAorg DG by meeting with @ministeriosalud Ximena Aguilera Sanhueza. Reviewed #RaysOfHope support for Bandera Family Health Center and explored boosting 🇨🇱 cancer care with training & nuclear medicine. Eager to expand our partnership. pic.twitter.com/Q4AX6UQb3Y— Rafael MarianoGrossi (@rafaelmgrossi) April 30, 2024

The latest NUTEC Plastics partnership in Chile builds on work already being carried out to address plastic pollution in oceans by the IAEA. Mr Grossi visited Antarctica with the President of Argentina, Javier Milei, in January, to observe an IAEA scientific mission as it set out to assess the impact of microplastics in this remote region.

Established in 2020, NUTEC Plastics is an IAEA flagship initiative to fight plastic pollution with nuclear technologies. Through a network of NUTEC Plastic Monitoring Laboratories, nuclear and isotopic techniques are being used to produce data on marine microplastics distribution by sampling and analysing microplastics in the environment. The IAEA’s NUTEC Plastics initiative also brings together countries and partners to fight plastic pollution by introducing new technologies to improve plastic recycling.

During the Chile visit, Mr Grossi congratulated the CCHEN, which recently marked its 60th anniversary.

He said: “The IAEA and I are proud to support their impactful work with nuclear that advances Chile's progress and well-being. An example of that is their reactor, crucial in producing essential radioisotopes for healthcare.”

Chile will host the next International Conference on Effective Nuclear and Radiation Regulatory Systems in January 2026, the first in Latin America, a reflection of the region's expanding role in global nuclear safety and regulation.