IAEA Board of Governors Meeting
Statement by Katie Mead, Alternate Resident Representative of Australia to the IAEA
Agenda Item 3: Strengthening the Agency’s activities related to nuclear science, technology and applications: Nuclear Technology Review 2022
8 March 2022
Thank you, Chair, and Happy International Women’s Day.
Australia thanks Deputy Directors General Mokhtar and Chudakov for their introductory remarks on this agenda item. We welcome the opportunity to comment on the Director General’s draft Nuclear Technology Review 2022.
Australia is fully committed to promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear technology throughout its region and the world. The peaceful applications of nuclear technology aid in addressing health, food and agriculture, water resource management, environment, industry, and energy challenges worldwide.
Australia is continuing its engagement on the Agency’s Coordinated Research Project focused on the Economic Appraisal of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), by assisting in evaluating the economic viability of the technology. We also note the global efforts made in the technological development of SMRs over the past year.
Chair,
Australia has made significant strides in nuclear waste management. In 2021, Australia announced plans to establish a national nuclear waste storage facility, which will permanently dispose of low-level radioactive waste and temporarily store intermediate-level waste.
Australia’s construction of the world’s first industrial scale Synroc waste treatment facility continues. This facility will be comprised of industry-leading advancements in automation and robotics for waste processing and will be used to condition intermediate-level liquid waste from Australia’s production of nuclear medicines. The construction of this facility has reached physical completion, with pre-commissioning activities now underway.
Chair,
Australia has increased its nuclear science and technology capabilities relevant to space by commissioning a new microprobe beamline that is able to facilitate radiation biology studies. This capability will assist in understanding the effects of the space environment on human health and plant biology. Australia is committed to contributing to the rapid advances in space-related activities and research internationally.
Australia encourages the Agency to continue enhancing cooperation and collaboration with other relevant multilateral bodies, including the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency and the Generation IV International Forum.
Finally Chair,
Australia continues to support the Agency’s Nuclear Applications and Nuclear Energy programmes wholeheartedly. With these comments, we take note of the draft Nuclear Technology Review 2022.
Thank you, Chair.