Agenda Item 5: Nuclear Technology Review 2021
INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY
BOARD OF GOVERNORS’ MEETINGS
(March 1, 2021)
Agenda Item 5: Nuclear Technology Review 2021
Statement by India
Madam Chair,
We associate ourselves with the statement delivered by the distinguished Ambassador of Costa Rica on behalf of G-77 and China and would like to add few additional comments in our national capacity.
India recognises climate change as a key challenge for humanity and believes that greater use of nuclear power will contribute to climate change mitigation. Global energy demand will continue to grow, and in order to ensure sustainable low-carbon energy generation, nuclear power will remain a credible option and an important component of future growth strategies of many countries. To this end we take note of the projections given by the Agency in the nuclear technology report. We also appreciate the Agency's efforts in establishing a COVID-19 Nuclear Power Plant Operating Experience Network.
India is pursuing a low-carbon growth model and is fully committed to the Paris Agreement. In fact we are well on track to exceed our commitments. As part of our overall energy security and clean energy policy, India plans further expansion of nuclear power generation capacity with 21 new reactors that will increase nuclear power generation capacity to over 22,000 MWe by the end of the next decade. The indigenously designed 700 MWe pressurized heavy water reactor at Kakrapar (Unit 3) that has been connected to the national electricity grid in January this year is a landmark in our objective.
Madam Chair,
Operation of our research reactors and production of medical isotopes continued uninterrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic. A recent milestone in our research and development activity is the development of a process to harvest medical-grade ruthenium-106 from nuclear waste, allowing indigenous production of plaques for use in eye cancer therapy. Clinical use of these plaques to treat eye cancer patients has commenced since September 2020 with very positive outcomes. We believe in sharing knowledge and expertise with our partners by participating and contributing to the different technical programmes of the Agency in all areas of nuclear technologies concerning human life, be it energy, health, agriculture or human capital development. The involvement of the private sector in the production of medical isotopes commenced in May last year with the establishment of Research Reactor in Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode.
The National cancer grid of India established in 2012 with the vision of creating uniform standards of cancer care across India has now grown to a large network of 236 cancer centres and hospitals. We have launched a global cancer care network NCG Vishwam Cancer Care Connect (NCG Vishwam 3C) in 2019. We hope that this network will bring a paradigm shift in cancer care in the form of sharing guidelines for management of common cancer, providing consultations, treatment procedures, sharing online resources, etc. Presently, there are 11 foreign centers that are part of the NCG Vishwam 3C, of whom 7 have joined in the last year and 8 more have expressed interest in joining it.
Madam Chair,
The Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership (GCNEP), established by India in 2010, has been steadily strengthening its portfolio of programmes and has been conducting several international and regional programmes in cooperation with IAEA. The Centre is equipped to conduct programmes in the areas of advanced nuclear energy system studies, nuclear security studies, radiological safety studies, nuclear material characterization and on applications of radioisotopes and radiation technologies. In addition, the Center has developed various laboratories for facilitating training in topical areas e.g. model Emergency Response Center, Access Control Lab etc. GCNEP has inked 12 MOUs with various countries including the United States, France, Russia, the UK as well as with the IAEA. GCNEP is also extending technical assistance in capacity building to Bangladesh for their upcoming Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant. We look forward to the further strengthening of the partnership between the GCNEP, the IAEA and Member States.
We acknowledge the dynamic role being played by the IAEA in guiding peaceful uses of nuclear energy, ensuring safety and security, and look forward to its continued and vital support for providing a conducive atmosphere for the growth of nuclear science and technology. India stands ready to support the IAEA in these endeavors.
With these comments, Madam Chair, we take note of the Nuclear Technology Review 2021 as contained in the document GOV/2021/2
Thank you
