Category: IAEA

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IAEA Conference on Nuclear and Radiological Emergencies Opens in Riyadh

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

In a video message opening the conference, Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency said, “First, nuclear energy depends on trust, and this trust is earned through robust, science-based emergency preparedness and response. Public confidence hinges on people knowing that authorities are prepared and seeing them act effectively when it matters most. Nuclear safety, security and emergency preparedness must come first, and must be credible and transparent.” 

In her opening address, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Safety and Security Karine Herviou said, “Preparedness is not about responding to yesterday’s risks, but about building robust and adaptive systems that continue to function when several of the conditions we take for granted fail at once.” 

 “This conference stands as a testament to the Kingdom’s unwavering commitment to advancing the peaceful applications of nuclear science and technology, while upholding the highest standards of safety, security, and preparedness,” said Dr. Khalid Aleissa, Chief Executive Officer of the Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Commission (NRRC) and President of the Conference. “Through the integration of emerging technologies, the exchange of practical experience, and deeper collaboration with the IAEA and our international partners, we collectively enhance global resilience in nuclear and radiological emergency preparedness and response.” 

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Media Invited to Attend IAEA’s International Conference on Nuclear and Radiological Emergencies in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

16/2025

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Commission (NRRC) of Saudi Arabia will host the International Conference on Nuclear and Radiological Emergencies: Building the Future in an Evolving World from 1 to 4 December 2025 at the Hilton Riyadh Hotel and Residences, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The conference, which is open to the media, will bring together policymakers, regulators, emergency responders from more than 100 countries as well as international organizations and six international bodies to discuss how emergency preparedness and response (EPR) can adapt to new technologies, emerging threats, and increasingly complex risk environments. The event will also be livestreamed on the conference website.

The opening ceremony on Monday, 1 December, will feature opening remarks by IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi (video statement), and the Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Safety and Security, Karine Herviou,  Dr Khaled Aleissa, President of the NRRC and Conference Chair, and Dr Abel González, Advisor to Argentina’s Nuclear Regulatory Authority (ARN) and Conference Vice-President.

Conference discussions will explore a wide range of topics, including:

  • Artificial intelligence and digital innovation in emergency management;
  • Preparedness for new reactor concepts, including floating and mobile reactors;
  • Decision-making under uncertainty and coordination across international response frameworks; and
  • Medical response to nuclear and radiological emergencies.

Side Events and Exhibition Highlights

The programme will be further enhanced by side events offering broader context and engagement opportunities:

  • Women in Nuclear: Showcasing the leadership and experience of women across the EPR community, this session highlights achievements, challenges, and opportunities to promote equality of opportunity in emergency response (01 December 2025, 1600-1730 AST, Side Room A)
  • Connecting Generations in EPR: An interactive session bridging generations of experts, where seasoned professionals and young responders share “lessons from the field,” mentor future leaders, and invite participants to reflect creatively on their role in shaping EPR in 2030 (Tuesday, 2 December 2025, 1600-1730 AST, Side Room B)
  • Lessons Learned from ConvEx-3 2025: Focusing on lessons learned from the world’s largest full-scale nuclear emergency exercise – which took place in June 2025 – this event will explore how international coordination, innovation, and digital tools improve preparedness. (Wednesday, 3 December 2025, 1100-1230 AST, Main Room)

In parallel, a technical exhibition will feature emerging technologies and innovations that enhance assessment, response, monitoring, and communication during nuclear and radiological emergencies. Participating exhibitors will include governments, research institutes, and private-sector partners.

Accreditation

All journalists interested in covering the conference in person should contact the NRRC Media Office at Akhoudri@nrrc.gov.sa or talmussallam@nrrc.gov.sa for accreditation and logistical information.

Please send your name, organization, and press credentials to the email addresses listed below by 28 November.

For interview requests and further information, contact:

IAEA Press Office – 

press@iaea.org

NRRC Media Office – 

Mr. Abbas Khoudri – Akhoudri@nrrc.gov.sa, +966500230302

Ms. Thuraya Almussallam – talmussallam@nrrc.gov.sa, +966533321540

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Update 330 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has deployed additional staff to Ukraine’s Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) this week to conduct a comprehensive safety assessment of the damaged New Safe Confinement (NSC) following a drone strike last February, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi announced today.

At the request of the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine (SNRIU), staff from the IAEA’s Department of Nuclear Safety and Security joined the IAEA’s Support and Assistance Mission to Chornobyl, which has been continuously present at the site since January 2023. Their objective is to evaluate the current condition and operational status of the NSC after the 14 February 2025 attack.

The NSC, completed in 2016, is a protective structure built to enclose the Shelter Object, which itself covers the remains of Unit 4 that was destroyed in the 1986 accident. While February’s drone strike did not lead to any release of radioactive material, it caused significant structural damage, affecting the NSC’s designed confinement function and projected lifetime. During the mission, the IAEA team will review the measures currently in place to mitigate risks and discuss the plant’s plans to restore the NSC’s functionality and address any potential nuclear safety concerns.

Separately, this week at Ukraine’s three operating nuclear power plants – Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine – electricity output has largely returned to normal after last week’s military attacks on the electrical grid. Nearly all power units are now operating at full capacity, with only one unit remaining at reduced power. Additionally, the high voltage power lines lost during the attacks have all been restored.

Following sustained attacks on Ukraine’s electrical grid, the IAEA is preparing to deploy a team to visit several substations critical to nuclear safety. The expert mission will evaluate the latest damage and potential impact on NPP operations. The mission will be the sixth of its kind. 

At the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), IAEA staff present at the plant has reported hearing military activity daily, often very close to the plant. On some days, the team reported hearing explosions and gunfire roughly 20 times – sometimes much more.

Despite the regular sound of military activities in the area, the IAEA team at the ZNPP have continued to conduct walkdowns across the plant to monitor and assess nuclear safety and security. In recent days, the team performed walkdowns of two turbine halls and the radioactive waste storage facilities. They also observed the testing of an emergency diesel generator and discussed the cooling water situation on-site, one of the most challenging topics for nuclear safety and security at the ZNPP.

The IAEA has organized a new round of deliveries under its comprehensive programme of assistance to Ukraine, bringing the total number of shipments to 185 since the start of the conflict. 

The State Specialized Enterprises “Central Enterprise for the Management of Radioactive Waste” and “Association Radon” as well as the National Science Center “Kharkov Institute of Physics and Technology” received a range of items designed to enhance nuclear security, surveillance capabilities and field operations at the sites. 

Under the IAEA’s ISAMKO programme, the Ukrainian Geological Company received two water analysers and portable IT equipment to support field work. The State Scientific Research Institute of Laboratory Diagnostic and Veterinary Sanitary Expertise also received equipment for the cleaning of dioxins, a group of harmful environmental pollutants. 

Under the IAEA’s medical assistance programme, Varash hospital and the Rivne NPP received medical items and supplies, while the Netishyn hospital received a complete laparoscopic system. 

The deliveries were made possible through financial support from the European Union, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom.

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IAEA Convenes Forum in Manila to Advance Nuclear Solutions to Plastic Pollution

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

Mary Albon, IAEA Office of Public Information and Communication

The role of nuclear science and technology in helping countries tackle the global challenge of plastic pollution is the focus of a major IAEA event that opened today in Manila. The International High Level Forum on NUTEC Plastics will showcase concrete results achieved by this flagship initiative launched by the IAEA in 2020. 

Hosted by the Government of the Philippines from 25 to 26 November, the forum will highlight progress, identify challenges and chart a course for the future of NUTEC Plastics. The opening ceremony of the event was attended by the President of the Philippines, President of the Asian Development Bank and Director General of the IAEA. 

“NUTEC Plastics embodies the kind of innovation we need — solutions that merge advanced nuclear applications with environmental protection and translate scientific progress into tangible benefits for industry and society. Our scientific institutions here in the Philippines have embraced this challenge, building on the strength of international scientific cooperation,” said Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., President of the Philippines, in his keynote address.

“NUTEC Plastics is driving innovation in monitoring plastics in the ocean and in turning plastic waste into useful products,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi. “Looking at plastic pollution from the atomic level allows us to understand microplastic pollution and its movements through marine ecosystems, which supports well-informed policy decisions to deal with it. And by using irradiation we can reduce the amount of plastic waste by turning it into valuable products like building materials.”

“To solve a problem of this scale, science must be paired with financing and policy,” said Masato Kanda, president of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) at the forum’s opening session. “Here in the Philippines, ADB is planning a $1 billion program to develop a sustainable and resilient blue economy. Complementing this, we are harnessing digital solutions to simulate the flow of plastic pollution in the Pasig River to help rejuvenate this important waterway. We are also deepening our collaboration with the IAEA across the board: from food security to energy transition.”

NUTEC Plastics presently works with 53 countries to improve plastic recycling and develop bio-based plastics, and with 102 countries to monitor marine microplastic pollution. 

The forum brings together government officials, scientists, policy makers and representatives from the private sector, international financial institutions and multilateral organizations from across Asia and the Pacific and beyond. 

A ministerial segment will spotlight how countries are tackling plastic pollution, setting the stage for solutions-driven discussions. Representatives of international and regional organizations such as the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the Asian Development Bank will also share their insights and expertise. Adding to the momentum, young experts will take the floor to share their perspectives on how nuclear science can help turn the tide on the plastic pollution crisis. The event is broadcast live here.

The Global Scourge of Plastic Pollution

Every day, the equivalent of 2000 garbage trucks full of plastic are dumped into the world’s oceans, rivers and lakes.  Every year, 19-23 million tonnes of plastic waste leaks into waterways, disrupting habitats and livelihoods. Since plastic is not biodegradable, it breaks down into ever smaller fragments, which eventually degrade into microplastics. Microplastics can easily infiltrate into ecosystems and the food chain through water, air and soil.

By 2050 global plastic production is expected to almost triple to 1.1 billion tonnes. Meanwhile, less than 10% of the 7 billion tonnes of existing plastic has been recycled.

NUTEC Plastics: Nuclear Solutions for Plastic Upcycling

Radiation can transform plastic waste into durable, high value materials and products. It can also create biodegradable bio-based plastics as an alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastics. The High Level Forum will identify challenges to scaling radiation technologies for upcycling and propose strategies to overcome them.

To date, eight countries have NUTEC upcycling projects underway in cooperation with commercial partners. Argentina, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines are at the forefront in demonstrating the feasibility of using irradiation to recycle plastic waste to produce construction materials, industrial additives, railway ties and other durable products. These countries have already tested prototype processes and are moving toward pilot-scale industrial production. 

To support the commercialization of radiation-assisted upcycling, the IAEA has released three tools for measuring plastic circularity, identifying the level of technological maturity and calculating the economic feasibility of integrating electron beam technologies into plastic recycling. Countries can also use the IAEA’s new transportable electron beam system for research and development, training and demonstration activities.

Monitoring Marine Microplastics

Nuclear and related techniques can be used to track the movement and behaviour of microplastics in the marine environment, identify their sources and analyse their degradation processes.

NUTEC Plastics equips laboratories worldwide with the technology and expertise needed for sampling, analysing and monitoring marine microplastic pollution. The initiative has already trained more than 400 scientists worldwide through the IAEA’s technical cooperation programme, and its Global Marine Monitoring Network, which connects more than 100 laboratories, is harmonising global monitoring protocols.

The High Level Forum will highlight progress and identify challenges and opportunities in these areas and showcase new tools for microplastic monitoring.

“We’ve come a long way, but there’s still a lot to do,” concluded Director General Grossi. “The IAEA cannot do this alone: I invite governments, international organizations, research institutes, private enterprises and donors to join us in this exciting next phase of the fight against plastic waste.”

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Media Invited to First-ever IAEA International Symposium on Artificial Intelligence and Nuclear Energy

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will host the first-ever International Symposium on Artificial Intelligence and Nuclear Energy, 3 to 4 December, at the IAEA in the M Building of the Vienna International Centre (VIC).

Stakeholders from the nuclear industry, AI sector, as well as representatives from government, regulatory bodies, academia, non-governmental organizations and energy companies will convene to assess and strengthen synergies between nuclear power and AI, from powering data centres to enhancing and accelerating nuclear innovation.

The event is open to the media and will be livestreamed. Pictures of the opening will be available here, and articles will be posted here.

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi will open the Symposium at 10:00 CET on 3 December, alongside Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency. 

Over two days, the Symposium will feature, among others: Sama Bilbao y León, Director General, World Nuclear Association; Nathan Flaman, Head, Global Growth, Cameco UK Limited; Marc Kamphausen, Global Senior Vice President, Customer & Partner Success Management, Oracle; Maria Korsnic, President & CEO, Nuclear Energy Institute; Trey Lauderdale, Founder & CEO, Atomic Canyon; Kevin Lee, Lead – Disruptive, Innovative and Emerging Technologies, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission; Alexey Likhachev, Director General, Rosatom; Liu Jing, Vice Chairman, China Atomic Energy Authority; Lou Martinez, Chief Technology Officer, Westinghouse; Jeffrey Miller, Vice President, Business Development, TerraPower; Aurelien Schwartz, Chairman & CEO, Metroscope; Petteri Tiippana, Director General, STUK (Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority of Finland); Ahmet Tokpinar, Principal Vice President & General Manager, Nuclear, Bechtel Global Nuclear Power Business.

The Symposium is organized into five panel sessions: Nuclear Power for Data Centres; AI in the Nuclear Sector – Today, Tomorrow and Beyond; Nuclear Capacity Deployment Consistent with Safety, Security and Safeguards Objectives; NPP Project Management Optimization: Recent Achievements and Future AI Advancements; and Nuclear Supply Chains: Current Approach and Expanded use of AI. All sessions will take place in the M-building plenary.

In addition, the IAEA Innovation to Support Operating Nuclear Power Plants (ISOP) AI Working Group will host a side event on 3 December at 12:30 in M2, to highlight the IAEA’s cross-departmental and multi-stakeholder approach to advancing AI innovation in operating nuclear power plants. The Small Modular Reactor Regulators’ Forum (SMR RF) will also host a side event to provide an introduction to the Forum and its activities.

More information about the Symposium, including the programme summary, are available online.

IAEA experts will be available for interviews. Please send your request to the Press Office.

Press Working Area 

M0E 100 on the M-Building’s ground floor will be available as a press working area, starting from 09:00 CET on 3 December. 

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 CET on Tuesday, 2 December. 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. 

To keep abreast of the IAEA’s latest developments, follow the IAEA and #NuclearAI on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X and Weibo.

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New Agreement Between the IAEA and ADB Towards Financing NPPs

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

ADB President Masato Kanda and IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi signed a new agreement to strengthen cooperation in support of countries across Asia and the Pacific that are exploring nuclear energy. (Photo: D. Calma/IAEA)

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a new agreement today to strengthen cooperation in support of countries across Asia and the Pacific that are exploring nuclear energy as part of their long-term energy and development strategies. 

The agreement, signed by the IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi and the ADB President Masato Kanda on the margins of the International High Level Forum on NUTEC Plastics in Manila, Philippines, comes at a pivotal moment: on 24 November, the ADB’s Board of Directors revised its energy policy to support nuclear power, including investment measures for the first time as a pathway for decarbonization. Following this policy shift, the IAEA welcomed ADB’s indication to begin discussions to identify concrete areas and potential projects for collaboration.

“This new partnership is an important step to unlocking investment in nuclear energy projects,” Mr Grossi said. “Today’s agreement marks an important step forward. As ADB opens the door to financing nuclear power, we will move quickly to identify practical areas of collaboration that respond to rising energy needs of countries across the region. ADBs new direction on nuclear financing and the IAEA’s technical leadership create a powerful combination. Our teams will now begin shaping concrete initiatives that deliver reliable, low carbon energy and strengthen resilience for millions of people,” Mr Grossi said. 

“With ADB’s updated energy policy recognizing nuclear power as an alternative to fossil fuels for baseload generation, this agreement ensures that developing member countries choosing this path do so with robust safeguards, strong governance and a clear commitment to sustainability,” Mr Kanda said. “We are committed to helping the region make informed choices that balance the need for energy access with the imperative of energy security and a sustainable future.”

Following the Agency’s landmark agreement with the World Bank earlier this year, which was signed by DG Grossi and the World Bank President Ajay Banga, today’s agreement opened the door for global development institutions to support nuclear power. It further broadens that international momentum, strengthening support for countries that are turning to nuclear energy to enhance energy access, security and resilience.

The agreement provides a framework for collaboration on innovative nuclear technologies that can help countries across Asia and the Pacific diversify their energy mix and meet growing power demand. It will support ADB in broadening its technical understanding of nuclear power—covering areas such as energy planning, infrastructure development and the integration of nuclear options into clean-energy transition strategies.

The IAEA lists 37 embarking countries that are considering, planning or are well advanced in introducing nuclear power into their energy mix. More than a third of those embarking countries are ADB member countries.

This new milestone builds on the existing cooperation framework agreement between the IAEA and ADB. Through this framework, both institutions have been working together across shared priorities such as health, food security, environmental protection, water management and energy planning. 

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How Nuclear Technology Tackles Plastic Pollution

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

The IAEA’s NUTEC Plastics initiative tackles plastic pollution by helping scientists monitor microplastics in the sea and driving innovations in recycling to cut down on waste.

Monika Shifotoka, IAEA Office of Public Information and Communications

Marine litter with nurdles on a beach in Sri Lanka. (Photo: S. Frunk/Ocean Image Bank).

How Nuclear Technology Tackles Plastic Pollution 

Every year, around 20 million tonnes of plastic end up in the ocean, rivers, and lakes — disrupting ecosystems and livelihoods. NUclear TEChnology for Controlling Plastic Pollution (NUTEC Plastics), an IAEA initiative launched in 2020, is using science to track, understand, and reduce plastic pollution from the atomic level up. Here is how nuclear technologies are helping countries combat the scourge of plastic pollution: 

1. Tackling the Plastic Pollution Problem from Two Fronts

NUTEC Plastics combines science and technology to fight plastic waste by: 

  • Monitoring and assessment – using nuclear techniques to track and study microplastics in the ocean to inform decision makers.
  • Upcycling plastic waste – using radiation technology to transform plastic waste into useful, high value products. 

2. Seeing the Invisible

IAEA Research Scientists Francois Oberhaensli and Marc Metian take samples of Antarctic beach sand for later analysis. (Photo: IAEA).

Microplastics are tiny particles, sometimes just one-thousandth of a millimetre. NUTEC Plastics uses nuclear imaging tools and radiotracers to detect, track, and study how these particles move through marine ecosystems — even tracing them inside seafood.

They also proved that microplastic are passing from mummy to baby sharks.

The data supports evidence-based policy making and protect marine environments and the people that rely on them. 

3. Monitoring the Ocean

(Photo: IAEA) 

Using nuclear-derived imaging techniques, scientists can identify even the tiniest plastic particles in seawater, beach sand, sediment and in marine organisms. 

NUTEC Plastics equips laboratories worldwide with the technology and technical knowledge required to sample, analyse and monitor microplastic pollution in the ocean. 

As part of IAEA’s work on monitoring marine microplastic pollution, IAEA experts from the Environment Laboratories in Monaco have undertaken sampling missions to Antarctica and to Ecuador’s Galápagos Islands to gather data and build sampling capacity in the region. The answer is, yes, microplastics are already in these most remote areas of the world. 

Over 100 laboratories worldwide are now connected through NUTEC Plastics Global Marine Monitoring Network, sharing data and expertise. More than 400 scientists have been trained to monitor and analyse microplastic pollution through the IAEA technical cooperation programme. 

4. Turning Plastic Waste into Useful Materials

Construction materials from recycled plastic in the Philippines. (Photo: PNRI).

Through radiation-assisted technology, NUTEC Plastics helps countries facilitate the plastic sorting and upcycling. These nuclear technologies enable to transform waste into durable construction materials, industrial fuels and waxes or into stronger, more sustainable plastics. 

5. Combining Science and Industry for Real-World Solutions

Weather resistant thatch from recycled plastic and rice husk in Indonesia. (Photo: PT VIRO).

NUTEC Plastics facilitates public—private collaboration to ensure that solutions are not only scientifically sound but also market-oriented. This is how some countries are using the materials:   

  • Argentina is making railway sleepers from recycled plastic waste.
  • China is recycling polyolefin plastics, commonly found in cling film and shrink wrap, into industrial wax.
  • Indonesia created weather-resistance thatch from recycled plastic and rice husk.
  • Malaysia uses radiation-induced processes to turn waste PTFE (Teflon) into industrial additives and post-consumer polyethylene into fuel.
  • The Philippines is producing affordable housing materials from recycled plastics.
  • Tunisia is replacing part of cement with irradiated plastic waste to produce lighter, cheaper, and equally strong concrete.
  • Romania and Germany are advancing sorting techniques to increase the purity of recycled polyethylene and polypropylene, enabling the creation of high-quality fabrics from plastic waste. 

6. Moving Towards a Circular Economy

IAEA Transportable E-beam System during display at the IAEA General Conference in September 2025. (Photo: A.Evrensel/IAEA).

NUTEC Plastics helps countries reduce dependence on fossil fuels, lower CO₂ emissions, and advance sustainable production by turning waste into valuable resources. 

Its new Circular Economy Assessment Platform further enhances the IAEA’s toolbox, complementing existing models that assess the technological maturity and economic viability of integrating electron beam (e-beam) technologies into plastic recycling. 

The IAEA’s new Transportable E-beam System will also assist Member States in research and development, training and demonstration activities on innovative radiation applications, including sorting and upcycling of plastic waste. 

7. Driving Industrial transition

Durable railway sleepers made from irradiated plastic waste in Argentina. (Photo: Circularis).

The initiative is guiding 53 Member States through a structured development plan, helping them scale up from laboratory research to industrial production. The goal is to have pilot scale industrial facilities operating by 2026-2027 — paving the way for greener industries and bringing us a step closer to circular economy. 

Partner With Us

The NUTEC Plastics initiative is supported through the IAEA’s technical cooperation programme and coordinated research projects (CRPs) and by contributions from IAEA member states and partners. More information including facts and figures, NUTEC Portal, donors and partnerships can be found here. 

Follow live updates from International High Level Forum on NUTEC Plastics on the IAEA social media channels: Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Threads. 

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Two More Countries Join Global Pledge to Triple Nuclear Energy by 2050

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

Mary Albon, IAEA Office of Public Information and Communications

Rwanda and Senegal joined the global commitment to triple nuclear energy capacity by 2050 at COP30 in Belém, Brazil. They have united with 31 other countries in endorsing the Declaration to Triple Nuclear Energy, which was launched two years ago at COP28. 

International support for nuclear power as a key part of the equation to achieve net-zero emissions continues to grow, including in Africa, which now accounts for nearly 20 percent of countries endorsing the pledge to triple nuclear energy production. 

A Nuclear Future for Africa 

According to the World Bank, around 600 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa lack access to electricity, representing nearly 83% of the world’s unelectrified population. This underscores the need to develop new sources of clean energy, including nuclear.  

South Africa, as president of the G20, spotlighted this need by hosting the first ever high level G20 meeting on nuclear energy in October 2025. The event was co-organized with the IAEA, which also released the Outlook for Nuclear Energy in Africa as part of its collaboration with the South African G20 presidency.  

According to current IAEA projections, in the high case scenario Africa’s nuclear generating capacity will triple from 2024 to 2030, and increase sixteen fold by 2050. 

Tripling Global Nuclear Capacity 

Tripling global nuclear capacity in Africa by 2050 calls for closer cooperation among governments, the nuclear power industry, financial institutions and energy consumers. Achieving this goal will require an enabling policy environment, robust supply chains, a skilled and diverse workforce, and greater regulatory and industrial harmonization and standardization. 

The pledge made at COP28 encouraged the World Bank, regional development banks and international financial institutions to include nuclear energy in their lending policies, and highlighted the importance of secure supply chains to accelerate deployment of nuclear energy technology. 

Since then, efforts to increase access to financing, including by the World Bank, and to streamline deployment continue to gain momentum. 

The 33 States that have endorsed the Declaration to Triple Nuclear Energy include: Armenia, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, the Czech Republic, El Salvador, Finland, France, Ghana, Hungary, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, the Republic of Korea, Kosovo, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Poland, Romania, the Republic of Rwanda, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. 

In addition, over 140 companies in the nuclear industry, 16 major financial institutions and a growing number of energy-intensive enterprises support the goal.  

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Director General Briefs Board on Iran Developments, Ukraine Support, Technical Assistance and More

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

Emma Midgley, IAEA Office of Public Information and Communication

Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi delivering his opening statement to the IAEA Board of Governors. (Photo: D. Calma/IAEA)

The IAEA Director General updated the Board of Governors on the Agency’s ongoing efforts to uphold nuclear safety, security and safeguards worldwide and to strengthen the benefits of nuclear science and technology.

Situation in Iran

In the Islamic Republic of Iran, IAEA inspectors have gone back to carry out inspections at many of the nuclear facilities unaffected by June’s military attacks. 

Mr Grossi said he was in regular contact with Iran, and more engagement was needed to restore full inspections, including at the affected sites.

“I continue to be convinced that there is no other solution but a diplomatic solution to this whole thing, and that requires engagement and understanding on our part and also full compliance on the part of Iran,” he said, referring to Iran’s obligations under the non-proliferation treaty agreement and comprehensive safeguards agreement.

Mr Grossi gave more details on how the IAEA is working with Iran to give Agency inspectors access to Iran’s inventories of low enriched uranium and high enriched uranium in his written statement to the Board.

Support to Ukrainian nuclear power plants

Mr Grossi also spoke of the IAEA’s continuous presence at five nuclear facilities in Ukraine. The Agency remains committed to providing any support it could to help ensure the safe and secure operation of nuclear facilities in Ukraine in what he described as an “extremely perilous and extremely fragile” situation. Successful mediation from the Agency has enabled indispensable repairs to the Dniprovska and Ferosplavna power lines to be carried out, ending a month-long loss of off-site electricity to the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant.

A total of 217 missions comprising 176 Agency staff members have been deployed at the five Ukrainian nuclear power plant sites during the conflict so far. A total of 174 deliveries has ensured that nuclear safety and security equipment worth €20.5 million has reached Ukraine.

IAEA Flagship Initiatives

Mr Grossi shared achievements of the IAEA’s flagship initiatives, and technical cooperation programme, which is the focus of the Technical Assistance and Cooperation Committee meeting this week. The Atoms4Food initiative continues to improve food security with new missions to assess the situation and the needs in Member States.

The International High-Level Forum on NUTEC Plastics will be hosted next week in Manila, Philippines, marking five years of the NUTEC achievements. 

Almost 100 countries have now joined the IAEA’s Rays of Hope: Cancer Care for All initiative. The IAEA is partnering with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to develop training curricula for pediatric cancer care and supporting experts in AI. 

“Since Rays of Hope was established almost three years ago, new cancer facilities have been established … Hospitals are being built. Technology is being transferred. This is changing the reality on the ground,” Mr Grossi said.

ZODIAC is using science and international collaboration to detect viruses and diseases to prevent pandemics. ZODIAC and the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (VETLAB) Network, supported scientists in Senegal sequenced the full genome of the Rift Valley Fever virus, impacting Senegal, Mauritania and Gambia.

COP 30 Climate Conference

Mr Grossi spoke of the IAEA’s participation in the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil. The IAEA hosted more than a dozen events at its Atoms4Climate Pavilion, engaging countries and partners on topics such as small modular reactors (SMRs), climate-smart agriculture, water and soil protection, fusion energy and blue carbon ecosystems.

The momentum of nuclear was also evident at recent G7 and G20 meetings, Mr Grossi said. 

“The days of a debate, nuclear yes, nuclear no, are over. Everybody agrees that nuclear is important,” he told the Board.

Fusion Energy

Mr Grossi also updated the Board on his visit to Chengdu, China for the 30th IAEA Fusion Energy Conference and the 2nd Ministerial Meeting of the World Fusion Energy Group last month, and his visit to the ITER organization last week, which “the biggest international cooperative platform on fusion”.

He also looked ahead to the IAEA’s first symposium on Artificial Intelligence and Nuclear Energy which will be held in Vienna in December. 

“As you know, artificial intelligence is one of the main drivers of new nuclear, the small modular reactors and the need for nuclear energy,” he told the Board.

 “And this will give us a unique platform where apart from us, governments, and regulators, we will have all the big companies from all over the world … we will hear from the entrepreneurs, the private sector.”

Naval Propulsion

Mr. Grossi concluded his statement by presenting the Board with two reports on safeguards-relevant aspects of naval nuclear propulsion programmes in Australia and Brazil. 

He also welcomed the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste’s recent application for IAEA membership.

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Update 326 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

Another localized ceasefire brokered by the IAEA took effect near Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) today, paving the way for repairs aimed at strengthening the site’s connection to the electricity grid and preventing a nuclear accident, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said.

Two weeks after off-site power was successfully restored to the ZNPP following a one-month outage – also made possible by temporary truce arrangements negotiated by the IAEA – demining and other preparations got under way this morning near a damaged section of the 330 kilovolt (kV) Ferosplavna-1 line, whose connection to the plant was cut six months ago.

Technicians are expected to begin the repairs on Saturday with the intention to re-connect Ferosplavna-1 to the site in the next few days. It would give the ZNPP access to two power lines after last month’s repairs of the 750 kV Dniprovska line, which had been disconnected for more than four weeks when it resumed supplying electricity to the plant on 23 October.

The IAEA team based at the ZNPP will be monitoring the new repairs, just as two Agency teams supervised last month’s activities on opposite sides of the frontline.

The initial plan had been to repair both lines simultaneously in October, when two localized and temporary ceasefires allowed technicians from both sides to work. While they restored the Dniprovska line, additional damage to Ferosplavna-1 was discovered at another location closer to the plant itself but outside of the initially agreed ceasefire zones, delaying its re-connection.

“Last month’s restoration of off-site power to Europe’s largest nuclear power plant was an extremely important development for nuclear safety and security, ending the tenth and longest complete loss of external electricity during more than three and a half years of war,” Director General Grossi said. 

“However, it is clearly not enough to just have one power line available for the plant, which used to have ten before the war. Following intense and complex consultations with the Russian Federation and Ukraine, we agreed on a new ceasefire window that will allow the additional repairs to proceed. Hopefully, also this power line will be re-connected soon, marking a new significant step for nuclear safety and security. It will further enhance the plant’s nuclear safety resilience,” he said.

The ZNPP’s six reactors have not produced electricity for more than three years and its six reactors are all shut down. But it still needs electricity to power the pumps used for cooling its reactor cores and spent fuel and to avoid a meltdown with a possible radioactive release. When the plant loses all external electricity, it relies on emergency diesel generators for the power it needs to operate its safety systems.

“Both sides recognize the risks posed by a prolonged loss of power as well as by limited off-site power redundancy at a nuclear facility. They have worked constructively with us to enable these vital repairs to proceed. However, the overall nuclear safety and security situation at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant remains highly precarious. We will only be able to claim success once this devastating war ends without a nuclear accident,” Director General Grossi said.