The 68th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (Photo: D. Calma/IAEA)

This year's General Conference, which is convening from September 16-20 in Vienna, Austria, brings together high-ranking officials and representatives from the IAEA’s 178 member nations .

Nuclear energy for food, healthcare

In his opening speech, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi announced new action plans for the Atoms4Food initiative, which has been jointly implemented by the IAEA and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) since last year. The IAEA supports the FAO and its partners in using nuclear technology for food irradiation, insect control, food preservation, and soil and crop improvement to respond to climate change.

The IAEA’s next major priority is to increase the use of nuclear technology in cancer diagnosis and treatment. On the sidelines of the African Union Summit in February 2022, the IAEA and the World Health Organization launched the Rays of Hope initiative to help developing countries build cancer radiotherapy centers.

So far 86 countries have contacted the IAEA for assistance and projects have been implemented in 30 countries. Thanks to these efforts, millions of people around the world have received early diagnosis and treatment for cancer. During the five days of this conference, 200,000 more people will learn they have cancer, said IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi.

“This is the driving force behind our Rays of Hope initiative, which we launched in close coordination with the WHO to support countries around the world, particularly low- and middle-income countries, where, in some cases, not a single radiotherapy machine exists. The IAEA is providing support through resource mobilization, equipment, and training, and even building cancer centers,” he said. 

In a report called “Energy, Electricity, and Nuclear Power Estimates for the Period to 2050”, released on the first day of the Conference, nuclear-generated electricity is projected to increase to 950 gigawatts by 2050. This would be more than 2.5 times what it was last year. Small modular reactors (SMRs) will account for about 25% of the production .

These IAEA projections acknowledge nuclear power as a clean, safe energy source, and reflect a growing interest in SMRs for both electric and non-electric applications to meet climate goals and foster sustainable development.

From October 21-25, the IAEA will host an International Conference on SMRs and their Applications, bringing together government officials, vendors, end-users, and international organizations committed to ensuring the safe deployment of SMRs.

Another major topic at the ongoing IAEA General Conference is nuclear safety risks in a world of increasing conflicts and geopolitical tensions. Regarding the “hotspot” of nuclear risk in the past two years, Grossi said the IAEA has carried out 140 inspection and monitoring missions at the Ukrainian nuclear plants in Zaporizhzhya, Rivne, and Khmelnytskyy.

Grossi personally inspected the nuclear power plant in Russia’s Kursk province, which has been threatened by Ukrainian forces. Grossia said that, under any circumstances, nuclear power plants need to be protected from attacks. He called on the international community to support the IAEA in its mission of ensuring the safety of these facilities.

Grossi said he wants to resume discussions with Iran's new President, Masoud Pezeshkian, before November, in the hope of reviving the P5+1 nuclear deal before there is any political change in the US.

“I expect to continue the bilateral talks with the new Iranian President and government on effort to ensure the international community that Iran’s nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.”

The IAEA is about to finalize an agreement with Saudi Arabia on a mechanism to monitor nuclear facilities beginning next year. This will be a positive step at a  time when rival countries in the Middle East are pursuing their own nuclear programs, possibly for non-peaceful purposes.