In his closing statement at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) International Ministerial Conference last week, Russian State atomic energy corporation Rosatom director-general Sergey Kirienko said the conference had reaffirmed that nuclear power remained an important option for many countries to improve their energy security.

He added that nuclear power, as a stable baseload source of electricity, complemented other energy sources, including renewables, and that many countries were contemplating nuclear expansions to reduce the impact of volatile fossil fuel prices.

"The innovative character of this type of energy provides us with sustainable development in the future. The closed nuclear fuel cycle and fusion may open for humanity absolutely new horizons,” Kirienko told delegates.

The 500 conference participants, which included 38 Ministers and represented 89 countries and seven international organisations, also emphasised the importance of nuclear safety in the future growth of nuclear power.

South Africa’s Energy Minister, Dipuo Peters, and State-owned power distributer Eskom CEO Brian Dames were set to attend the conference, but later pulled out.

"It is fully recognised that nuclear accidents have no borders and nuclear safety must be robust, effective and transparent," Kirienko said, adding that global nuclear safety had been strengthened through comprehensive safety reassessments by IAEA member States, which included South Africa, as well as regulatory oversight, emergency preparedness and international collaboration, following the Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011.

On the environmental front, it was stressed that the safe management of spent fuel and the disposal of radioactive waste were important to the sustainable development of nuclear energy.

“Appropriate steps must be taken to ensure that adequate financial resources are available and strategies are in place to support the safe management of spent fuel and radioactive waste,” Kirienko urged.

He emphasised that international cooperation among countries experienced in nuclear power and those developing nuclear power programmes was cardinal, adding that competent persons were key to all nuclear power programmes.

“Governments play an important role in developing and maintaining capacities to sustain nuclear power programmes,” he stated.

Several financing models to construct nuclear power plants were discussed at the conference and it was noted that ‘build-own-operate’ arrangements were being introduced into the industry.

It was also agreed that each country had a responsibility to establish an appropriate and adequate legal framework, and to fulfil its obligations in nuclear security and nonproliferation safeguards, as well as nuclear safety.

Participants further recognised the need to work for the establishment of a global nuclear ability regime that addressed the concerns of all States that might be affected by a nuclear accident, with a view to providing appropriate compensation for nuclear damage.

Many participants recognised that fast reactors, closed fuel cycles and reusing nuclear fuel were key to enhancing the sustainability of future nuclear systems, as these reactors allowed for reduced waste streams and improved efficient use of uranium. The use of thorium as an alternative fuel was also discussed as an option to enhance the sustainability of nuclear power globally.

It was also highlighted that governments played an important role in fostering research and development, as well as streamlining licensing and regulatory approaches.

Meanwhile, IAEA director-general Yukiya Amano was optimistic about the future of nuclear power in the 21st century.

“The IAEA is committed to ensuring that the expansion of nuclear power takes place in a way that results in maximum safety, reliability and efficiency, and guards against the proliferation of nuclear weapons,” he stated.

However, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development secretary-general Angel Gurría said the international nuclear power industry was far from achieving its environmental goal of limiting increases in average world temperature.

“Bolder and more innovative efforts are required, and nuclear energy can and must be part of the solution. But it is essential to do so in a safe and economically competitive manner. Only then, will it be possible to take advantage of the long-term, carbon-free security of supply and stable prices that nuclear energy has to offer," he stated.