IAEA DG Sees International Stability Through Support for Non-Proliferation, Continuing Contribution of Nuclear Power in World Energy Mix

The global population, which will grow in this decade by one billion people, needs both security and improved living conditions. Meeting this challenge entails answers inter alia to two questions: whether we can eventually eliminate the threat of nuclear weapons and attain international stability; and whether we can use nuclear power as a major part of a stable supply of environmentally benign energy. International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Hans Blix suggests the answer to both questions should be "yes".

Speaking at the opening session of the Annual Conference of the Japan Atomic Industrial Forum on 10 April, Dr. Blix noted that the superpowers are now dismantling large numbers of their nuclear weapons and negotiations are underway both on a world- wide ban on the further production of nuclear material for weapons use and on a comprehensive ban on any further testing of nuclear weapons. He further noted that in one week's time a major conference would begin in New York to examine whether the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty is to be extended for an unlimited or a specific period of time. There can be no doubt, he added, that this treaty and other treaties under which States have renounced nuclear weapons are contributing to stability. To proceed with disarmament and remain committed to non-proliferation, States need to feel confident that others are fully respecting their commitments. The IAEA is strengthening its own system for verifying nuclear non-proliferation commitments, and also has the capacity to provide verification under other nuclear-related arms control agreements and thereby contribute further to confidence and stability.

Turning to nuclear power, the Director General said it was indispensible for stable and sustainable development, and it was high time that governments publicly recognized this. Greater efficiency in energy use would not offset the expanded demand for energy, especially in the developing countries. Alternatives to fossil fuels, other than nuclear power, are not able economically to make a significant contribution to meeting demand in the near term. Increased global use of fossil fuels must be discouraged in order to limit emissions of greenhouse gases. Although nuclear power could produce electricity at competitive prices, it is not at present in many countries "politically competitive": addressing concerns expressed about the nuclear option and more education and public information about nuclear energy would encourage a more constructive discussion.

A major source of public concern about nuclear power, the Director General said, relates to safety, in particular the fear of accidents involving radioactive releases, but it can be demonstrated that comprehensive national and international nuclear safety infrastructures are in place. The second public concern about nuclear power relates to waste, but it should be pointed out that nuclear wastes are limited in volume and can be isolated in their entirety from the environment. The wastes from fossil fuels, by contrast, cannot be handled in a manner that is responsible vis-a-vis future generations. A third concern has been that the development of nuclear power might risk increasing the capacity of countries to make nuclear weapons. However, contrary to President Kennedy's pessimistic prediction years ago that there would be dozens of nuclear- weapon States, the expansion of nuclear power in the world has gone hand in hand with increased commitments to exclusively peaceful use of nuclear energy. Thus, he concluded, it was not unreasonable to foresee that the tremendous force of the atom, would come to be accepted as a sustainable, environmentally benign source of energy contributing to and not disrupting the stability of international society.