Nuclear power around the world had achieved great progress in
the last two decades, raising expectations of the peaceful use of
nuclear power, said Mohammed Elbaradei, chief of the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),?in Geneva?on Monday.
In a review of the achievements of the IAEA in the last fifty
years at the 50th General Conference of the IAEA, Elbaradei said,
"The rapid growth in global energy demand" and "climate change
concerns" had highlighted the advantages of nuclear power in terms
of minimal greenhouse gas emissions, a sustained safety and
productivity record, and relatively lower costs.
He added that, up to the end of 2005, there were 443 nuclear
power reactors operating in 30 countries supplying about 16 percent
of the world's electricity. "This percentage has been roughly
stable since 1986, indicating that nuclear power has grown at about
the same rate as total global electricity for the past 20
years."
He especially praised China, Russia and other countries for
their peaceful use of nuclear power. These countries "currently
have the most ambitious plans for short-term nuclear
expansion."
He also highlighted the responsibility of the IAEA for promoting
the development and transfer of peaceful nuclear technology,
maintaining and expanding the global system of nuclear safety, and
strengthening the security of nuclear material and radioactive
stuffs and establishments, as well as preventing the proliferation
of nuclear weapons.
He said lasting peace had been not only an "achievement," but
also a "process" and a "commitment."
The 50th Annual Regular Session of the IAEA General Conference
opened on Monday at the Austria Center in Vienna, Austria.
High-level delegates from the Agency's 140 member states are
present at the five-day conference, which marks the beginning of
activities commemorating the IAEA's 50th anniversary this year.
(Xinhua News Agency September 19, 2006)
