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Statement by Mr. Abhishek Singh, First Secretary, on the...

Home 2014 Statement by Mr. Abhishek Singh, First Secretary, on the...

2014

STATEMENT BY ABHISHEK SINGH, FIRST SECRETARY, PERMANENT MISSION OF INDIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS, ON
THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE IAEA FOR THE YEAR 2013 AT THE 69TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL
ASSEMBLY ON NOVEMBER 03, 2014

Madam President,
My delegation thanks the Director General, IAEA for preparing the Annual Report for the year 2013, as contained in document
[86]: note by the SG A/69/225.
Madam President,
India is committed to harnessing the benefits of nuclear energy for electricity production while according the highest priority to
nuclear safety and security. India will need to rapidly raise the energy production to meet its growing energy requirements to
achieve its developmental goals. Nuclear energy is an essential component of our energy basket.
This year marks several important milestones for the Indian atomic energy programme. The Department of Atomic Energy
(DAE) was established sixty years ago in 1954. This is also the Golden Jubilee year of Indias first reprocessing plant called
Plutonium Plant, which was the first step in the second stage of Indian nuclear power programme, that uses plutonium based
fuel in Fast Breeder Reactors. This year we also marked the fortieth anniversary of the commissioning of ISOMED, Indias first
gamma radiation processing plant for sterilisation of medical products. This plant was set up at BARC, Mumbai with the help of
UNDP and the IAEA.
In August 2014, the Unit No. 5 of the Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS) achieved a record of 765 days of continuous
operation, the highest in the world in the last two decades, and the second highest in the entire history of nuclear power.
The first unit of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant which achieved its first criticality in July last year is now operating at
close to its full rated power of 1000 MWe. The second unit is in an advanced stage of commissioning. The construction of the
500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) is nearing completion at Kalpakkam. The erection of all critical, permanent
in-core components has been completed. The reactor is now expected to achieve first criticality in about six months from now.
Madam President,
India continues to attach high priority for R&D on all aspects of Thorium-related reactor technologies and allied fuel cycle. The
process of selection of a site for construction of AHWR is in an advanced stage. The performance of several Indian fuel cycle
facilities reached their highest levels last year. Thus, PHWR fuel production achieved an increase of 18% over the previous
year, and the highest ever production of heavy water was achieved with the lowest specific energy consumption. With its
excellent physical and nuclear properties Thorium is widely and rightly viewed as the 'fuel of the future'. India continues to
carry forward intense development of Thorium fuel cycle based technologies for demonstration in its AHWR programme.
A protocol additional to the agreement between India and the IAEA for the application of safeguards to Indian civilian nuclear
facilities entered into force on July 25, 2014.
Madam President,
India is committed to implement the highest standards for the safety of Indian nuclear power plants and the associated fuel
cycle facilities. India will continue to participate and assist the IAEA Secretariat in its endeavor to enhance nuclear safety
through the cluster of measures it has formulated in the IAEA Action Plan on Nuclear Safety.
The agency has an important role in allaying misapprehensions in the public and Member States about the safety of nuclear
power plants taking into account the current advances in relevant design and technology areas. During his visit to India in
March 2013, the DG, IAEA appreciated the safety upgrades implemented in the Tarapur 1 & 2 reactors. We would also like to
encourage the IAEA to make concerted efforts for free flow of latest information, technology and equipment pertaining to
nuclear safety among the Member States.
As part of Indias commitment to implement the highest standards for the safety of Indian nuclear power plants, several steps
have been taken in the recent past to organise peer reviews at national and international level. A follow up mission of the
IAEA Operational Safety Review Team (OSART) to India for Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS) units - 3&4, took place
during February 3 - 7, 2014.
India appreciates the significant progress made by International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles
(INPRO) over the years. The INPRO methodology for assessment of innovative nuclear reactors and fuel cycles provides an
opportunity for developing acceptance criteria for new designs, inter alia, addressing innovative capabilities for enhanced
safety.
Madam President,

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Welcome to Permanent Mission of India to the UN , New York

India is pleased to note that the Director General of the Agency has organised the Scientific Forum this year on the important
topic of Radioactive Waste: Meeting the Challenge. In this connection, Indias policy of employing a closed nuclear fuel
cycle not only ensures better utilisation of the nuclear fuel resources, but also greatly minimises the quantity of nuclear waste.
The 2014 Scientific Forum provided an opportunity for countries to share their experience in this important area, which will also
go a long way in allaying one of the major concerns of nuclear energy.
The commissioning of Actinide Separation Demonstration Facility of BARC at Tarapur, has taken India to be one of the two
advanced nuclear countries who could demonstrate separation of minor actinides from the High Level Waste (HLW). This
approach would help in reducing substantially the life of radioactive waste, from around 1000 years to about 300 years, as well
as the volume of HLW requiring long-term storage. Furthermore, technology has been developed and demonstrated for the
removal of highly radioactive Caesium-137 and its conversion to vitrified pencil source, usable for blood irradiator and similar
low dose rate radiation applications. Removal of actinides and Caesium-137 addresses several technical issues on the
storage of high level waste in a cost-effective and sustainable manner. Madam President,
Nuclear Energy has a crucial role to play in achieving the objectives of Indias sustainable economic growth. At the same time
India is extensively engaged in development of nuclear technologies in diverse fields extending beyond nuclear power. This
includes isotope applications for improved crop varieties, crop protection and post-harvest technologies, radio-isotope
applications for diagnostic and theraupetic uses in health care and, technologies for safe drinking water, industry, etc.
India attaches great importance to the IAEAs work in the fields of nuclear science. We contribute to these activities through
participation in the Technical Meetings and coordinated Research Projects and also support the IAEAs programme in nuclear
fusion.
The Agencys programme and achievements in relation to nuclear applications in food and agriculture, human health and
nutrition, water resources management, protection of the environment and industry make a valuable contribution to meeting
the needs of the developing countries. India is highly appreciative of the IAEAs efforts in cancer management, and in
particular the Programme on Action for Cancer Therapy (PACT). India would continue to support agency activities in these
areas, including by offering service of experts and training fellows in reputable institutions in the country.
Madam President,
There is widespread recognition that the threat of nuclear terrorism is one of the pressing challenges facing the international
community. Responsible national action and effective international cooperation are therefore required for strengthening
nuclear security to prevent vulnerable nuclear material falling into hands of non-state actors. India has consistently supported
IAEAs important role in facilitating national efforts to strengthen nuclear security and in fostering effective international
cooperation. India has participated in the three Nuclear Security Summits held this far.
As part of implementation of the Arrangement with the IAEA concerning Indias voluntary contribution to the Nuclear Security
Fund, the services of Indian cost-free expert in information security are being provided to the Division of Nuclear Security of the
IAEA.
Universal adherence to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials (CPPNM) and early entry into force of
its 2005 Amendment would go a long way in strengthening global efforts in the area of nuclear security. India is party to the
CPPNM and is amongst the countries which have ratified the 2005 amendment to the Convention. We appreciate the Agencys
efforts to bring the amendment into force and note the increase in the number of states adhering to the amendment. We
encourage the Agency to continue its efforts to promote early entry into force of the amendment. We appreciate Agencys
efforts in improving the understanding of member states about Illicit Trafficking Database (ITDB) and to encourage them to join
the programme.
Madam President,
With these comments, we take note of the IAEAs Annual Report for 2013. India supports the work of IAEA and has
cosponsored the draft resolution on the Report of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
I thank you, Mr. President.

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