Address by Dr Hans Blix Director General, International Atomic Energy Agency at the International Seminar on the Role of Nuclear Energy for Sustainable Development
This year the IAEA is celebrating its 40th anniversary and I appreciate the opportunity to address this seminar in New Delhi and express the Agency's appreciation for 40 years of active Indian participation in the IAEA. Indeed, the ten year old Indian State - now a mature 50 - joined the IAEA even before the Agency's Statute came into force. While at times critical of some of the Agency's lines of action, India - a country advanced in nuclear science and technology - has played a full and indispensible role in the IAEA.
I myself have had the immense privilege of knowing and working closely and constructively with all Chairmen of India's Atomic Energy Commission from Homi Sethna to Dr. Chidambaram. I sat next to Dr. Ramanna when he was President of the IAEA General Conference in 1986 and next to Dr. Chidambaram during the year when he chaired our Board of Governors - 1994-95.
As a member of the IAEA India benefits from the sharing of experience of other Member States and these States benefit from sharing Indian experiences. India has actively participated in the Agency's interregional and regional training courses, in activities under the Asia Pacific Regional Co-operation Agreement (RCA) and in a broad cross-section of regular programmes. Over the years many excellent Indian scientists and engineers have contributed to the work of the Agency as experts or staff members . This is how the organization should function.
Let me now focus on the role of the IAEA to facilitate the use of nuclear energy in developing countries to promote food production, better health, electricity generation and environmental safety.
Role of the IAEA in Development
The Statute of the IAEA lays down that the Agency is to "seek to accelerate and enlarge the contribution of atomic energy to peace, health and prosperity throughout the world" and to "ensure, so far as it is able, that assistance provided by it or at its request or under its supervision or control is not used in such a way as to further any military purpose."
Facilitating the use of nuclear power and strengthening safety in operations and waste disposal are well known and important activities pursued under this mandate; verifying that nuclear installations and programmes subject to safeguards verification are not used for military purposes is another high visibility and mandatory activity. But the Agency is also intensely concerned with the development of nuclear science - including fusion - and with a host of nuclear applications.
The IAEA as an Agent for the Transfer of Technology
The transfer of nuclear technology can take place through many different channels - from the publication and dissemination of research to import on a commercial basis. It was the realization of the special character and potential of nuclear science and technology that led to the creation of a dedicated intergovernmental mechanism for scientific and technical co-operation. The special character lies particularly in the need to ensure that nuclear knowledge and techniques transferred will be used safely and exclusively for peaceful purposes. Certainly the spectacular possibilities that this new science and technology seemed to promise also contributed to the decision to establish a specialized organization. Moreover, forty years ago most nuclear technology was controlled by governments. For the transfer of that technology an intergovernmental mechanism was the logical solution. Today, more than 120 countries, including 90 developing countries, co-operate within and benefit from this mechanism and the activities of the IAEA, promoting the peaceful atom and helping to control and eradicate the belligerent atom, are fully supportive of the goal of sustainable development.
Over the years the IAEA has developed a number of successful and sometimes unconventional means and methods to facilitate the transfer of nuclear technology and the sharing of experience. Let me mention some examples.
The IAEA has developed the International Nuclear Information System (INIS) to be a principal channel for disseminating nuclear scientific and technical information. It is in essence an electronic bibliography drawing on centres all over the world, benefiting nuclear scientists and institutions all over the world and covering virtually every aspect of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. This database has currently some 1.8 million records and the participation extends to 70 developing and 23 industrialized countries, as well as 17 international organizations. It is available on line.
Meetings and publications are traditional means of transferring knowledge. The IAEA holds each year some 400 meetings on various topics in nuclear science and technology. Together they attract over 2500 participants. Many of these events result in publications and technical documents that are widely distributed within IAEA Member States. The Agency is, in fact, the single biggest publisher in the world in the nuclear field and it is rapidly moving to use "e-mail" and Internet to supplement or replace traditional methods of collaboration and exchange of information.
Research centres and laboratories: Alone among international organizations, the IAEA operates two laboratories of its own. They are not meant to compete with national or international institutes for research, but they contribute significantly both to the creation and transfer of nuclear techniques in specific sectors. They are also used for training under our technical assistance programmes. The IAEA's Seibersdorf Laboratories, near Vienna, provide services for programmes in physics, chemistry, hydrology, nuclear instrumentation, and agriculture as well as to many technical co-operation projects. The Agency stands in gratitude to India for its recent welcome gifts of instrumentation to the Laboratory. The IAEA's Marine Environment Laboratory in Monaco carries out studies of pollution and radioactivity in the oceans, lakes, and other water bodies, e.g. in the Persian Gulf after the Gulf War, in the Kara Sea and in Mururoa after the French tests. It also provides technical support and services to Member States, e.g. calibration. Further, the International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Trieste, Italy, serves as an important hub for physicists from the whole world. Advanced scientific knowledge and skills are promoted and exchanged. The Centre was earlier under direct IAEA administration, but is now managed by UNESCO while the Agency continues to provide strong financial and policy support.
Research contracts: Research work in national institutions is supported by the IAEA under nearly 2000 research contracts and agreements in more than 90 developing and industrialized countries. Most contracts and agreements are components of so-called Co-ordinated Research Projects (CRPs), which bring together groups of scientists in various countries to investigate problems and seek solutions in areas ranging from the management of radioactive wastes to the use of isotopes in understanding climate change. Over the past 10 years, the IAEA has spent nearly US $43 million to finance such research activities.
Technology transfer through Technical Co-operation Projects
The Agency's Technical Co-operation Programme is a major channel for the transfer of skills, knowledge and equipment of importance for the safe and practical use of the peaceful applications of nuclear energy both in the power and non-power field. It also assists Member States in achieving self-reliance by training staff and strengthening institutions. The programme, which is drawn up on the basis of requests from governments, is financed mainly by voluntary and extrabudgetary contributions from Member States. In 1996 a total of US$ 78 million was available to finance these activities - not a huge sum, but when used wisely it can be very effective. Let me use this occasion to express appreciation for India's long-standing and whole-hearted support, both financial and otherwise, for the Agency's TC programme. Personally I think the reasons which once led India not to be a recipient of the programme have lost their relevance. Just as India contributes to the programme, I think India could benefit from it.
Putting Nuclear Science and Technology to Work
For most of the IAEA's developing Member States the construction of nuclear power reactors to generate electricity or to desalinate water still remains a somewhat distant prospect. For these countries the chief beneficial uses of nuclear energy are the myriad of relatively small-scale applications in agriculture, human health, industry, environment and hydrology. It is the IAEA's task to help its developing members to make use of these applications where they can give benefits which may not otherwise be obtainable or where they may be more efficient than non-nuclear alternatives.
A few examples might help to illustrate what we are doing. Later in this meeting Dr. Machi, Deputy Director General in the IAEA, will provide more illustrations.
Eliminating Rinderpest
Over the past 40 years, a disease known as rinderpest, or "cattle plague", has been devastating for farmers in Africa, claiming the lives of millions of cattle and severely damaging farm production and income. Especially in the 1980s, serious outbreaks were reported throughout Africa.
Today, out of 18 African countries where cattle once were infested with rinderpest, only two show signs of the disease. Instrumental to this remarkable turnabout has been a Pan-African campaign, which was launched in 1987 and which incorporated the application of a new nuclear-based testing technique developed jointly by the IAEA, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and a laboratory in the United Kingdom. The new technique radically increased the effectiveness of vaccination campaigns against the plague.
This project's success is being paralleled by similar work in other regions of the world: not least in India, where the national eradication campaign is following internationally agreed guidelines established in collaboration with the Agency.
Human Health
Nuclear medicine is nowadays a very large discipline important both for therapy and diagnosis. Developing countries evidently need also to make use of radiation, inter alia to treat cancer. India, for one, makes extensive use of radioisotopes produced in the country. The IAEA has provided considerable assistance to many of its developing Member States in nuclear medicine, e.g. in the form of training and equipment. Not least important has been the creation and promotion of the worldwide network of Secondary Standard Dosimetry laboratories to ensure that hospital equipment is correctly calibrated.
Water Management
Fresh water resources have emerged as a major issue of national, regional and international concern and India has been one of the leading countries in emphasizing the importance of isotope hydrology and making sure that the Agency's regular and TC programmes address this issue adequately. Through technical co-operation projects the IAEA has encouraged the application of isotope techniques to improve the management of groundwater resources. Let me just mention that some 40 countries are currently collaborating in this work. One example: in the management of city water supplies, Agency collaboration with Venezuelan experts has resulted, through the use of radioisotopes, in accurate mapping of underground water sources in the area of Caracas and the development of a strategy for their protection and sustainable use. In North Africa and elsewhere, vast aquifers lie in arid and semi-arid regions and can be a uniquely valuable resource. However, these aquifers are vulnerable to over-exploitation and pollution. The Agency has been co-operating with the countries in these areas in the use of isotopes to determine sustainable levels of use of these water resources and to protect them from pollution.
I now turn to environmental issues.
Within 25 years, some 60 percent of the world's population will live in urban areas. Today we can see how environmental problems including water and air pollution are having serious economic and human health consequences for many of the new "mega-cities". Air pollution in Mexico City, for example, is reported to contribute to 12,000 deaths per year. In this field the IAEA has helped to establish a network for the collection and analysis of airborne particulate matter in more than 30 developing countries. Nuclear and other techniques are used to monitor air pollution in order to identify major sources. Without such data it is obviously difficult to develop remedies.
Let me now turn to nuclear power as an environmentally friendly and sustainable energy source for electricity, heat and industrial processes.
Sustainable Energy: The Nuclear Power Option
From its beginning the IAEA has provided a forum for the exchange of information and experience in the development and use of nuclear power. There are International Working Groups which focus on the different reactor types. Thus, one of these groups focusses on heavy water reactor technology which is of particular interest to India. A newly created group focusses on the potential use of nuclear power for desalination. And we plan soon to establish a group on fuel cycle options.
Another important component of the Agency's programme is encouraging studies which compare nuclear and other sources of electricity generation - coal, oil, gas, hydro and renewables. These studies are conducted in collaboration with a number of other international organizations and seek to contribute to a better understanding of the merits and demerits of existing energy options - in terms of lifetime costs, self-reliance, impact upon life, health and the environment, etc.
Nuclear power is currently generating about 17% of the world's electricity - a little less than all the world's hydropower. The nuclear power option has long been pursued in India and it is attracting increasing attention in several countries of East and South East Asia. It could help this economically fast growing region avoid having all its energy eggs in the fossil basket. It could also alleviate environmental pressures associated with an accelerated use of fossil fuels during rapid industrialization and urbanization. Nuclear power avoids not only local and regional environmental pollution such as acid rain caused by emissions of SO2 and NOx. Just as important, an expanded use of nuclear generated electricity would offer a way to reduce the burden of greenhouse gas emissions, especially CO2, and thereby help to alleviate the risk of climate change - global warming.
Targets for restraint in CO2 emissions have been repeatedly advocated - at the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992 and at the UNGA session on sustainable development last June. However, in the real world CO2 emissions have been going up and continue to do so. The simple reason is that energy - and especially electricity - use is going up and the increased energy efficiency and increased use of renewable sources urged are inadequate means to restrain the use of fossil fuels.
Greater energy efficiency and cleaner use of fossil fuels are goals that must be supported. Hydro power can be expanded in some places, but in India and many other countries the social and environmental problems associated with new hydro dams are well known. The greater use of solar and wind power is widely advocated and should also be supported. But it must be recognized that these energy sources, at least for the time being, are not viable for the large scale base-load energy needed for big cities. For the foreseeable time the real choice is thus between fossil and nuclear. Currently we are seeing a greater use of coal and gas - with inevitable greater emissions of CO2.
A general revival of the nuclear option is not yet in sight although it would be desirable both from the point of view of environment and longer term energy security. Indeed, India and some other Asian countries are among the few where there is a strong expansion of nuclear power to meet the ever faster growing demand for electricity. In the Republic of Korea electricity use per person was at 100 kWh per year in 1964. Today it is 5000. The Republic of Korea has developed its nuclear programme very fast. Today it has 11 reactors operating. In 10 years time there may be over 25. Japan, which has hardly any indigenous energy resources has today more than 50 nuclear power reactors providing some 33% of Japan's electricity. China, a late starter in the nuclear power field, currently has three reactors operating, but the prospects are for a very fast expanding programme. India, as this audience knows, has ten nuclear units in operation and four units under construction.
The future role of nuclear power in the global energy mix will depend on a wide range of factors.
Financing is a major factor. It is very costly to build nuclear power plants and this is a drawback in capital scarce developing countries. The advantage of relatively cheap operating and fuel costs comes only later. The financial competitiveness of nuclear versus other options depends very much on the specific characteristics of the region. For example, in China nuclear power is especially attractive in the heavily industrialized coastal regions to avoid having to transport coal on already overburdened rail systems.
Public and political acceptance of nuclear power is a problematic factor in most countries. Perhaps we are witnessing a somewhat reduced opposition to nuclear power in some countries, as concern about CO2 emissions from the burning of fossil fuels increases and renewable sources fail to attain credibility as possible alternatives. I believe the stage for a discussion of a greater use of nuclear energy is getting set when governments begin seriously to consider how to address the risk of global warming.
Nuclear Safety in Practice
Fear that nuclear accidents will release radioactivity to the environment is probably at the heart of many people's sceptical attitude toward nuclear power. The Chernobyl accident eleven years ago stands as a frightening image. I would in no way want to belittle that accident. Yet it must be seen in a larger perspective: the safety of nuclear power must be compared with the safety of alternative ways of generating electricity. How many are aware that the largest accidents in terms of casualties in the energy field have been connected with the collapse of hydro dams? There are also, as we know, severe accidents connected with the transport and storage of gas, the mining of coal and the shipping of oil. The reality is that all energy generation and use occurs at some risk and also the lack of energy carries risk. As the famous Indian nuclear scientist, Homi Bhaba, said: "No energy is more expensive than no energy". I note that Homi Bhaba was the first chairman of the IAEA Board of Governors and a bust of him - donated by the Indian Government - stands in front of our Boardroom.
While public perceptions and misconceptions pose a major problem for policy makers and communicators, the day to day task of ensuring a high level of safety in nuclear activities must be a priority concern for those in the industry. It is positive that the last ten years have witnessed significant advances in the attitudes to nuclear safety. Safety standards based on global experience have been adopted in the IAEA and an IAEA convention on the safety of nuclear power plants entered into force last year. India has signed it and, I hope, will soon find its way clear to ratifying this landmark instrument. A joint convention on the safety of waste and spent fuel management was adopted a few days ago in Vienna and this week a conference is meeting in Vienna to consider a draft convention on liability for nuclear damage.
Preventive action to ensure safety reduces the risk of incidents and accidents. Review by outside experts may be an effective method of discovering shortcomings. France has set an excellent example both by inviting international review of French nuclear performance and safety and by sending French experts to participate in the reviews of other countries performance - no doubt learning also from that experience. I strongly commend the fullest use of international peer review. Isolation of nuclear activities, as occurred in the past in the sphere of the former Soviet Union, clearly puts safety at risk. I welcome, and the IAEA is ready to respond positively, to the recent proposal for an international peer review of India's new 500 MW reactor design.
Verification and Safeguards
I want to conclude by some remarks on IAEA safeguards.
Over the years the IAEA's safeguards system has evolved to meet changing demands of the international community for inspection services. From the very early days exporters of nuclear material, equipment and technology have demanded assurance that the exported items are not used for any military purpose. This remains so. Gradually the demands have become more far-reaching and most nuclear exports have been made conditional on the acceptance of full non-proliferation commitments and comprehensive safeguards. However, as we know, global and regional detente is generally necessary for such acceptance. We can only hope that in due course such detente, accelerated nuclear disarmament and easing of regional tensions will lead to a universalization of commitments to exclusively peaceful use of nuclear energy, including the Middle East and South Asia. There can be no doubt that such a development, employing IAEA verification for confidence building, would also facilitate the transfer of nuclear technology and healthy development of nuclear power.
At present we can see a growing IAEA verification role in nuclear-weapon States. The Agency has been invited to verify quantities of US nuclear material which have been deemed surplus to defence requirements. More important, an arrangement involving Russia, the US and the Agency is being discussed under which the IAEA would verify that nuclear material from dismantled weapons does not go back into new weapons, but is stored or burnt up to generate electricity. Even without the entry into force of the START-2 Treaty, the dismantling of nuclear weapons is proceeding at a relatively fast pace in both the USA and the Russian Federation. This is to be noted and welcomed. It would also be desirable that an agreement be reached on a verified cut-off of all production of HEU and Pu for weapons purposes to ensure that no new weapons be manufactured with fresh nuclear material..
To provide the desired confidence safeguards verification must be effective. Spurred on by the discovery that Iraq was able to build a capacity to enrich uranium and to engage in weapons design without this being discovered, efforts have accelerated within the IAEA to strengthen the safeguards system. The main new features are requirements for more information and for allowing safeguards inspectors greater access to installations. The aim of these measures is to make the nuclear activities of States more transparent to the IAEA. The approaches and techniques now available - which are also designed to reduce cost - can be useful in all situations where IAEA safeguards are being applied - including at facilities in India.
The ultimate objective of the efforts to strengthen - and at the same time streamline - safeguards, has wide support. However, some governments - and parts of industry - have been concerned about the greater amount of data they will have to compile and present, and about opening up to inspection installations which may have commercial or technical secrets. We hope that these concerns will be allayed. Some States which accepted the proposed measures on a trial basis did not find them unduly onerous or cumbersome. I am convinced that the strengthened system will contribute to greater confidence and detente - which will facilitate a revival of the nuclear power option. Such a revival, as I have suggested, is indispensible if we are to contain CO2 emissions and reduce threats to the global climate and environment. It would be particularly desirable that countries which have the technological capacity to do so increase the nuclear share in their electricity mix so that the inevitable growth in the use of fossil fuel in the many countries which do not yet have such capacity would be less problematic from the global environmental point of view.
I want to end by congratulating you on the continuing development of India's nuclear power programme - including a commitment to innovative fuel cycle technologies - and for the broad based effort to bring a wide range nuclear technologies into daily use in the cause of sustainable development. I am confident that in the years to come - as in the forty years that have passed - India will continue to benefit from its very active participation in the IAEA and that, in turn, others within the IAEA will benefit from the vast Indian nuclear experience.