Category: IAEA

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Press Arrangements for IAEA Board of Governors Meeting, 8-12 June 2026

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors will convene its regular June meeting at the Agency’s headquarters at 10:00 CEST on Monday, 8 June, in Board Room C, Building C, 4th floor, in the Vienna International Centre (VIC). 

Board discussions are expected to include, among others: Annual Report for 2025; strengthening of the Agency’s technical cooperation activities: Technical Cooperation Report for 2025; Report of the Programme and Budget Committee; Safeguards Implementation Report for 2025; application of safeguards in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea; implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement in the Syrian Arab Republic; implementation of the NPT safeguards agreement and relevant provisions of the United Nations Security Council resolutions in the Islamic Republic of Iran; nuclear safety, security and safeguards in Ukraine; transfer of the nuclear materials in the context of AUKUS and its safeguards in all aspects under the NPT; designation of members to serve on the Board in 2026–2027; and representation of other organizations at the seventieth (2026) regular session of the General Conference.

The Board of Governors meeting is closed to the press. 

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi will open the meeting with an introductory statement, which will be released to journalists after delivery and posted on the IAEA website.  

Press Conference 

Director General Grossi is expected to hold a press conference at 12:30 CEST on Monday, 8 June, in the Press Room of the M building. 

A live video stream of the press conference will be available. The IAEA will provide video footage of the press conference and the Director General’s opening statement here and will make photos available on Flickr.  

Photo Opportunity 

There will be a photo opportunity with the IAEA Director General and the Chair of the Board, Ambassador Ian David Grainge Biggs of Australia, before the start of the Board meeting, on 8 June at 10:00 CEST in Board Room C, in the C building in the VIC. 

Press Working Area 

The Press Room of the M building’s ground floor will be available as a press working area, starting from 09:00 CEST on 8 June.

Accreditation

All journalists interested in covering the meeting in person – including those with permanent accreditation – are requested to inform the IAEA Press Office of their plans. Journalists without permanent accreditation must send copies of their passport and press ID to the IAEA Press Office by 14:00 CEST on Friday, 5 June. 

We encourage those journalists who do not yet have permanent accreditation to request it at UNIS Vienna. 

Please plan your arrival to allow sufficient time to pass through the VIC security check. 

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Press Arrangements for IAEA Board of Governors Meeting, 5 June 2026

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

The IAEA Board of Governors will convene a meeting at the Agency’s headquarters starting at 10:00 CEST on Friday, 5 June, in Board Room C in the Vienna International Centre (VIC).

The meeting is convened by the Chair of the Board following a request from the Governors of the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Kingdom of Morocco, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to convene  an “urgent session of the Board of Governors … following the attack on the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the United Arab Emirates that has threatened nuclear safety in the UAE.”

The Board of Governors meeting is closed to the press.

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi will open the meeting with an introductory statement, which will be released to journalists after delivery and posted on the IAEA website.  

The IAEA will provide video footage of the Director General’s opening statement here and will make photos available on Flickr.  

Photo Opportunity 

There will be a photo opportunity with the IAEA Director General and the Chair of the Board, Ambassador Ian David Grainge Biggs of Australia, before the start of the Board meeting, on 5 June at 10:00 CEST in Board Room C, Building C, 4th floor, in the VIC.  

Accreditation:

Journalists are requested to register with the Press Office by 16:00 CEST on Thursday, 4 June. Please email press@iaea.org.

 

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#EarthDay: Protecting Rhinos With Nuclear Science

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

Poaching remains one of the greatest threats to rhinos — a powerful symbol of our planet’s biodiversity. In South Africa, scientists are addressing this challenge with an innovative approach: using safe radioactive isotopes as invisible markers in rhino horns, enabling authorities to detect and trace them at borders.
 

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Update 347 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

The Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) temporarily lost all off-site power twice this week after its last remaining off-site power line was disconnected.

“The repeated losses of external power once again highlight the vulnerability of the ZNPP amid the ongoing conflict and the persistent risks to nuclear safety and security,” IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said. “Both Ukraine and the Russian Federation continue to engage constructively with the IAEA in negotiations for a temporary ceasefire so that repair work can begin to restore the main off-site power line as soon as conditions allow.” The main off-site 750 kV Dniprovska power line has been disconnected since 24 March 2026. 

On Thursday evening, the ZNPP lost all off-site power for the 14th time since the military conflict began over four years ago in February 2022. The 330 kV Ferosplavna-1 backup power line was temporarily disconnected, and the ZNPP’s emergency diesel generators immediately started and supplied the power needed to maintain essential nuclear safety and security functions during the external power outage. 

Two days prior, in the early hours of Tuesday, 14 April, the same Ferosplavna-1 backup power line was disconnected for approximately 90 minutes, during which time the plant also relied on the emergency diesel generators to maintain nuclear safety and security functions during the outage. 

“The repeated reliance on emergency diesel generators underscores how precarious the situation remains,” Director General Grossi added.

Following the Tuesday incident, the ZNPP informed the IAEA that the disconnection was caused by a problem with the interconnection power line that was sending power between the 330 kV open switchyard at the Zaporizhzhya Thermal Power Plant to the autotransformer located in the ZNPP’s 750 kV open switchyard, through which backup power was being provided to the site. The ZNPP reported observing instability in the electrical grid before the disconnection. This correlates with information the IAEA received from Ukraine’s electrical grid operator about attacks on the electrical grid that caused a local voltage drop in the transmission system around the time of the disconnection. 

The IAEA team at the plant continues to monitor the situation and is awaiting the results from the ZNPP’s investigation into both events.

Meanwhile, the IAEA is continuing consultations to establish a temporary localized ceasefire to enable repairs on the Dniprovska power line. The location of the damages, situated across the Dnipro River on the frontline, makes both the negotiations and repair efforts more challenging than the previous five temporary localized ceasefires negotiated by the IAEA, Director General Grossi said.

Over the past week, the IAEA delivered power supply units and generators to the State Enterprise USIE Izotop, which is responsible for the management of radioactive material intended for medical, industrial and other purposes. Two universal mass decontamination systems were also delivered to the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant. These deliveries were made possible with funds from the European Union.

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Republic of Korea: Nuclear Energy, Safeguards and More

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi met Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Cho Hyun. 

As one of the world’s leading nuclear energy countries, the Republic of Korea is a crucial partner and a strong supporter of the IAEA’s work for peace and development around the world, said the Director General during an important visit to the country this week.

Rafael Mariano Grossi met with Foreign Minister Cho Hyun during his third visit to the country, as well as former United Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. He also travelled to the Korean Demilitarized Zone. 

IAEA DG Meets Foreign Minister

Speaking of his meeting with Minister Hyun, Mr Grossi said: “We discussed our deep concerns about the DPRK’s nuclear programme and the IAEA’s indispensable verification role in support of much-needed renewed diplomatic efforts on this issue, in line with relevant UN Security Council resolutions.”

He said that Minister Hyun had reaffirmed that the Republic of Korea will fully comply with its obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) in the process of introducing conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarines and emphasized its commitment to transparent communication with the IAEA.

As with other NPT non-nuclear-weapon states with such plans, the IAEA will work closely with the Republic of Korea to ensure the implementation of all its safeguards responsibilities.

Multilateralism has Critical Role

Mr Grossi also said he was “honoured” to meet Mr Ki-moon in Seoul. 

“At a time of growing global challenges, multilateralism has a critical role to play. The experience and perspective of the former UN Secretary General are deeply valuable,” he said.

DMZ Highlights Need for Renewed Diplomacy

Mr Grossi went to the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) during his visit, commenting that it highlighted the need for renewed diplomacy to address challenges to international peace and security. 

“As the world’s attention is focused on developments in the Middle East, we must not forget tensions and divisions elsewhere, including here on the Korean Peninsula,” he said. 

Mr Grossi said the IAEA stands ready to support diplomatic efforts to ease tensions, promote peaceful co-existence on the Korean Peninsula and resolve the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea nuclear issue in a peaceful manner.

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IAEA and Japan Strengthen Emergency Preparedness in Fukushima

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

The first event focused on the IAEA safety standards on public communication in the event of a nuclear or radiological emergency. It was developed by IAEA officials and experts with extensive knowledge and hands-on experience in emergency public communication. This workshop, held from 2 to 6 March, aimed to strengthen participants’ ability to plan, organize and implement public communication arrangements across preparedness, response and recovery. It combined expert lectures, practical exercises and field visits, including visits to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station and the Fukushima Prefectural Environmental Creation Centre’s communication building. 

Participants from twelve countries (Georgia, Ghana, Jordan, Lithuania, Malaysia, Nigeria, Poland, Serbia, Thailand, Türkiye, Ukraine and Uzbekistan) developed practical skills such as message development, audience analysis and selecting and using appropriate communication channels, including social media, to disseminate factual information in the event of an emergency. 

Participants also explored how to build effective coordination among technical, operational and public information functions at both the national and international levels They also discussed challenges related to misinformation and disinformation during emergencies and took part in a scenario-based tabletop exercise conducted on a social media simulation platform to practise their new skills. 

“This workshop will have a lasting impact on how we prepare for nuclear emergency communication, giving us concrete lessons and tools to take back to our institutions’” said Tetiana Verbytska, Chief of Strategic Communications at Ukraine’s State Scientific and Technical Centre for Nuclear and Radiation Safety. “We are grateful to Japan for openly sharing its experience — including access to the Fukushima Daiichi site — and for showing that transparency and public communication are essential to effective preparedness.”

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Update 346 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

Efforts to negotiate another ceasefire that would facilitate the repair of the main off-site power line at Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) are still ongoing, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said today. The 750 kV Dniprovska power line has been disconnected since 24 March 2026. 

The ZNPP is still connected to off-site power via its sole backup power line – the 330 kV Ferosplavna-1 line. It was reconnected on 5 March, following repairs carried out under the protection of the fifth local ceasefire negotiated by the IAEA. 

“The damages to the Dniprovska line are located over the Dnieper River, which is the frontline in this area of Ukraine,” Director General Grossi said. “Despite the complexity, both sides continue to engage constructively in our negotiations so that repairs can commence in the near future.” 

The IAEA continues to deliver essential equipment to support Ukraine through its comprehensive programme of assistance amid the ongoing conflict.

Under the IAEA Support and Assistance Mission to the Kherson Oblast (ISAMKO), which was established in June 2023 following flooding of the region caused by the destruction of the Kakhovka dam, leptospira strains were delivered to the Regional State Laboratory of the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection in the Poltava Region of central Ukraine. The strains are intended to support the diagnosis of leptospirosis in humans and animals. Additionally, one mercury analyser with its accessories was delivered to Kherson Regional Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Under the medical assistance programme, medical items consisting of ventilation devices and sterilizer equipment were delivered to South Ukraine Hospital. An electrocardiograph (ECG) alongside further ECG systems and an expert-level slit lamp were delivered to the National Research Center for Radiation Medicine, Hematology and Oncology in Kyiv.

One low-level liquid scintillation counter was also delivered to the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant this week. 

These deliveries were made possible with funds from Denmark, Germany, Italy and Japan.

“The IAEA has been implementing its comprehensive programme of assistance to Ukraine since 2022 thanks to the support of Member States and the European Union,” Director General Grossi said. “We will continue to work closely with all our partners to strengthen nuclear safety and security in Ukraine for as long as our assistance is needed.”

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Powering Change: A Nuclear Engineer’s Journey from Brazil to the IAEA

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

Sara Kouchehbagh, IAEA Department of Nuclear Energy

Growing up in São Gonçalo, on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; a town that faced frequent power outages, Dandara Araujo Da Silva decided at an early age that she wanted to work in the energy sector. Now an Associate Nuclear Engineer at the IAEA’s Department of Nuclear Energy, she works on activities related to small modular reactors (SMRs) and microreactors and studies different approaches to reactivity control as well as SMR instrumentation and control systems. 

“I have always seen energy as a human necessity. Many regions of the world still lack access to reliable electricity, including my hometown, and finding clean, stable energy sources has become crucial. The Global South is among the most affected regions and relying solely on solar or wind is insufficient,” she says.  

“I chose nuclear engineering because I saw the potential of nuclear energy to provide a resilient, large scale, and low carbon power source to help meet growing electricity demand around the world,” she adds. 

Dandara’s journey to the IAEA is a story of determination and hard work. Despite financial challenges, with the support of her parents, she enrolled in a technical high school in Niterói, Brazil, where she dedicated herself fully—spending hours at her local public library reading university-level essays on calculus, physics, and more.  

Her commitment paid off when she was accepted to study nuclear engineering at Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, one of Brazil’s leading universities. To support herself, Dandara worked on campus as a calculus teaching assistant, commuting four hours a day.  

Dandara received the Junior Working Women for the Fem’Energia Award, which promotes women’s careers in the nuclear industry in Europe.  (Photo: WiN France).

In 2016, she applied to study abroad in France, a country with one of the highest shares of nuclear in its electricity mix and the third-largest producer of nuclear power in the world with 57 operating reactors. There was only one obstacle, she did not speak French. 

After months of self-study, she met the language requirements to pursue a master’s degree in mechanical systems engineering at the Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Toulouse, one of the leading engineering universities in France. 

Systems engineering, a methodology she felt had been missing from her earlier studies, gave her a broader view and understanding complex systems, their interfaces and lifecycle. It also helped her better understand issues around industrialization, commercialization, and long‑term deployment at an early project stage. 

“I was fascinated by how nuclear engineering blends multiple disciplines, including physics, chemistry, geology, mathematics, biology, and even sociology and the humanities,” she reflects.  

During her studies, she was offered a position as a nuclear engineer at Framatome, a French nuclear reactor company with over 65 years of experience designing, building, and maintaining nuclear power plants around the world. 

From there on, she made the career transition to the IAEA.

Dandara with colleagues at the IAEA’s first International Conference on Stakeholder Engagement for Nuclear Power Programmes, held in May 2025 in Vienna, Austria.

When asked what she considers her biggest personal achievement, Dandara says it was finding the courage to redefine her life entirely.  Beyond moving to different countries to build a career, she allowed herself the freedom to imagine a future that once felt unattainable and worked every day to make that dream a reality.  

“I learned to be a strong woman from my mother and grandmothers, women who refused to accept the limited place society assigned them. There were times I struggled with loneliness, questioned my own abilities, and doubted myself. But if I listened to those doubts, I wouldn’t be here.”  

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IAEA to Host Tenth Review Meeting of the Convention on Nuclear Safety

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

Vienna, Austria

6/2026

The Tenth Review Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Convention on Nuclear Safety (CNS) will be held at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) from 13 to 24 April 2026. 

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi will address the Opening Plenary session on 13 April 2026 at 09:00 CEST together with Faizan Mansoor, President of the Tenth Review Meeting.   

In force since 1996, the CNS is the key international legally binding instrument for nuclear safety that currently has 98 Contracting Parties. It commits its Contracting Parties operating land-based civil nuclear power plants to maintain a high level of safety by establishing fundamental safety principles to which States must adhere. At Review Meetings held every three years, the Contracting Parties present and discuss their National Reports on the implementation of obligations under the Convention. The last Review Meeting was held in 2023. 

The agenda for the two-week meeting includes discussions on the major common issues related to the safety of operating nuclear power plants. A topical session on strengthening national regulatory capabilities – taking into account new and innovative technologies and effective nuclear knowledge management -will be held for the CNS Contracting Parties will share their relevant experiences and lessons learned. 

Venue 

The conference will take place in Boardroom B/M1 in the M-Building of the Vienna International Centre (VIC).

Press Opportunities 

Journalists are invited to attend the Opening Plenary session – starting at 09:00 CEST on 13 April 2026 – and the part of the closing session where the Contracting Parties will adopt a Summary Report, currently foreseen to be held in the afternoon of 24 April 2026. For the exact timing of the closing session, please contact press@iaea.org. 

Both sessions will be streamed live and will take place in Boardroom B/M1 in M Building of the VIC. Photos will also be made available at the IAEA Flickr page. 

Accreditation 

All journalists are requested to inform the IAEA Press Office of their plans to attend by 10 April 2026, 14:00 CEST at press@iaea.org. Journalists with permanent credentials to the VIC need no additional accreditation. Journalists, who do not yet have permanent accreditation can request it at UNIS Vienna. 

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Six Ways the IAEA Supports Global Health Through Nuclear Science

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

Emma Midgley, IAEA Office of Public Information and Communication

Saliva sampling exercise with a child for body composition assessment. (Photo: V. Owino/IAEA)

The IAEA advances public health around the world by helping countries apply nuclear techniques to diagnose, treat, and prevent diseases. From cancer therapy to heart disease, nutrition and zoonotic disease surveillance, here are six key areas where the IAEA makes a difference to global health.

(Photo: IAEA)

1. Expanding Access to Radiotherapy Services Worldwide

More than 100 countries have joined the IAEA’s Rays of Hope: Cancer Care for All initiative, which works with governments, international financial institutions and the private sector to help increase radiotherapy access in low- and middle- income countries. Radiotherapy is an essential component of cancer treatment.

Under the initiative: more than 90 million euros in extrabudgetary funds has been raised to support cancer care in low- and middle- income countries, ten linear accelerators and 55 mammography machines have been procured, and 20 Anchor Centres established across four regions.

Rays of Hope Anchor Centres are leading cancer institutions recognized for excellence in clinical care, quality management, training, research and innovation. This global network has provided training to more than 700 professionals in the use of radiation medicine, expanding access to safe, high-quality cancer care.

The IAEA also works with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) to conduct imPACT reviews – comprehensive assessments of a country’s cancer control capacities and needs. ImPACT Review recommendations help to inform technical cooperation projects, national cancer control plans and strategic funding documents.

(Photo: IAEA)

2. Strengthening Nuclear Medicine for Better Diagnostics and Treatment

Nuclear medicine involves the administration into the body of radiopharmaceuticals, which are compounds containing small amounts of radioactive material. These agents enable diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of diseases, including early detection of cancer, significantly improving treatment outcomes and reducing mortality. These approaches also play a key role in identifying cardiovascular diseases and chronic conditions affecting the thyroid, brain and bones.

The IAEA supports countries in setting up nuclear medicine and radiology departments, providing technical expertise and experience to support countries in realizing safe, effective and high-quality medical imaging and targeted treatment for all.

3. Improving Precision Through Dosimetry and Quality Assurance

Medical X-rays and CT scans use ionizing radiation to generate images from inside the body, enabling doctors to see broken bones or cancer tumours. Radiation therapy uses high doses of radiation to treat cancer, targeting tumours effectively while limiting the dose to nearby healthy organs and tissues.

The IAEA’s Dosimetry Laboratory helps improve patient safety and effectiveness in radiotherapy and medical imaging through two services: calibration and audit services. Calibration ensures that medical facilities can measure radiotherapy doses accurately. Audits verify that doses and calculated and delivered accurately. 

The IAEA publishes guidance on quality assurance and dosimetry for medical physicists in radiation therapy, nuclear medicine, diagnostic radiology and radiation metrologists. It also works with partners to provide regional and national training courses and specialized workshops for medical physicists and radiation metrologists on topics related to quality assurance and dosimetry.

(Photo: IAEA)

4. Supporting Zoonotic Disease Detection and Control

Zoonotic diseases — pathogens that jump from animals to humans — represent one of the greatest threats to modern society. They account for 60% of known infectious diseases and 75% of all emerging ones.

These diseases affect human health, causing acute illness and long-term complications, resulting in an estimated 2.6 billion cases and 2.7 million deaths annually.

The IAEA’s Zoonotic Disease Integrated Action (ZODIAC) initiative was established to help prevent pandemics caused by pathogens — bacteria, parasites, fungi, or viruses — that originate in animals and can be transmitted to humans. By leveraging nuclear and nuclear-derived technologies, ZODIAC strengthens countries’ preparedness and capabilities to rapidly detect, identify, and respond to infectious disease outbreaks. Once an outbreak is detected and characterized, then quick and data-driven responses can be taken. 

5. Enhancing Health Through Nutrition Science

The world is facing a double burden of malnutrition, with undernutrition and obesity driving rising rates of non‑communicable diseases. By developing and transferring nuclear and related techniques, the IAEA advances global health by supporting the use of nutrition science to generate precise data on energy expenditure, body composition, breastfeeding practices, nutrient absorption, and skeletal health. 

The IAEA also supports clinicians and public health professionals in using nuclear and related techniques to assess nutritional status and design effective actions to prevent and manage all forms of malnutrition across the life course.

These techniques include stable isotope methods and imaging. The IAEA also compiles and hosts global databases on energy expenditure, human milk intake and body composition. These have informed publications that have for example dispelled longstanding beliefs about energy metabolism.

6. Building Global Knowledge Through the Human Health Programme

Human Health programme supports all IAEA activities in human health. 

The IAEA’s Human Health Series and Human Health Reports provide training materials, research findings, and technical guidance on radiation  therapy, radiology and nuclear medicine, quality assurance and dosimetry, medical physics, and nutrition. These publications support health professionals in improving diagnostics, therapy, and health outcomes worldwide. 

From radiotherapy and diagnostic imaging to radiopharmaceuticals, nutrition, and zoonotic disease control, the IAEA helps countries use nuclear science and technology to tackle global health challenges. By knowledge transfer, building capacity, and providing essential calibration and audit services, the Agency supports countries in delivering safer, more effective, and more accessible radiation medicine and public health services.

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