IAEA Board of Governors
Agenda item 4(a): Strengthening the Agency’s activities to nuclear science, technology and applications: Nuclear Technology review 2024
5 March 2024
Statement by Ms Marina Francis, Alternate Resident Representative of Australia to the IAEA
Thank you, Chair.
Australia welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Director General’s draft Nuclear Technology Review for 2024.
Chair
Nuclear technologies play an essential role in addressing many of the most pressing challenges of our time – across human health, agriculture, and the environment. In recognition of this, Australia has been a committed partner of the IAEA in promoting access to the peaceful uses of nuclear technology within our own region, and to the world at large, pursuant to Article IV of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
We will continue to enhance our partnership with the IAEA to ensure the peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology draw us closer to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Chair
Australia is pleased to highlight several important developments across four key areas within the Nuclear Technology Review 2024: uranium mining, Atoms for Heritage, waste management technologies, and fusion.
Chair
Australia's known uranium resources are the world's largest, and we continue to export uranium safely and securely for civilian nuclear energy purposes. In 2023, Australia’s Olympic Dam and Beverley/Four Mile mines were the only producing uranium mines in the country, generating approximately 5500 tonnes of uranium. Additionally, in 2023, the Honeymoon uranium mine significantly advanced a commissioning program, and is on schedule to produce its first uranium product in the first half of 2024. This will increase Australia’s capacity to supply uranium globally, and support Member States’ growing clean energy ambitions.
Chair
Australia acknowledges that particle accelerators, including Synchrotron techniques, play an essential role in enabling Member States to better understand and preserve cultural heritage. The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation – ANSTO – was able to reveal the underpainting in a famous Renaissance portrait by Agnolo Bronzino of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, using a non-invasive synchrotron technique. These techniques have also been used to help protect and preserve some of the world’s oldest artworks, including rock art known to be over 45,000 years old in Indonesia.
We were pleased that these capabilities were acknowledged in this years’ draft Nuclear Technology Review and look forward to continuing to support the IAEA’s Atoms for Heritage activities.
Chair
Australia is currently constructing a first-of-a-kind waste treatment facility using ANSTO Synroc® technology. This will treat intermediate-level liquid waste derived from nuclear medicine production by immobilising it into a safe, non-retractable solid form, ready for final disposal. ANSTO Synroc® technology has the potential to be applied to a broad range of other waste streams, including waste associated with advanced reactors and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). We look forward to keeping the Board informed of further developments as this important project nears completion.
Finally Chair
Australia recognises that significant fusion developments took place globally over the course of 2023. We are also pleased to share that the first ever nuclear fusion device to be wholly designed, built and operated by students is being planned for the University of New South Wales. This project will aim to have a working tokamak operating within two-to-three years, enabling Australian students to contribute to global fusion research and development.
Chair
Let me reiterate Australia’s steadfast support for the Agency’s nuclear science and technology programs.
With these comments, we are pleased to take note of the draft Nuclear Technology Review 2024.