Statement by Minister Hirotaka Matsuo at the IAEA Board of Governors Meeting starting on 9 September 2019: Item 5: Strengthening the Agency’s activities related to nuclear science, technology and applications
2019/9/10
Thank you, Mr. Chair,
<General>
Japan continues to support the IAEA’s initiative “Atoms for Peace and Development”, and expects the Agency to further lead the continued development of peaceful uses of nuclear technology, and the facilitation of nuclear science, technology and applications in cooperation with Member States.
From this standpoint, referring to the Ministerial Declaration which was the outcome of the “Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Science and Technology,” held last November, we recognize that peaceful uses of a variety of nuclear sciences and technologies play an important role in achieving the SDGs set out by the United Nations.
In order for each IAEA’s Member State to achieve the SDGs , further strengthening of the activities of the IAEA in the fields of nuclear power and non-power applications including human health, cancer treatment, water management, food and agriculture, and the environment, is extremely valuable.
<Support for Peaceful Uses of nuclear technology by Japan>
Mr. Chair,
I would like to touch upon the matters on which Japan places importance as well as the activities of Japan in this area.
During the Ministerial Conference last November, the IAEA and a consortium of 11 Japanese universities and institutions signed a practical arrangement with a view towards enhancing their cooperation for human resource development in the field of nuclear medicine. Under this partnership arrangement, the consortium implemented a scientific visit from Member States and held a workshop in July. Based on consultation with the IAEA, three more workshops and two scientific visits this year, and more activities in next year are planned. I believe these activities have contributed for strengthening capacity building the field of nuclear medicine in Member States.
Additionally, since last year’s General Conference, Japan provided financial support for the IAEA initiatives in the fields of infectious disease prevention and cancer care, food productivity improvement and contamination control, through the PUI.
We will continue to actively contribute technology transfer of peaceful uses of nuclear applied technology to Member States.
<ReNuAL>
Mr. Chair,
We recognize that the Seibersdorf Laboratories play an important role in supporting the activities of the IAEA in meeting the needs of Member States’ interest of utilizing nuclear applications and technologies.
The renovation of the laboratories through the ReNuAL and ReNuAL+ projects provides more effective and efficient support for Member States which is a great benefit to all Member States.
Japan contributed to the ReNuAL and ReNuAL+ projects approximately in total 5.6 Million Euros 5 times in the past for supporting to approach the goal of the project.
To bring the ReNuAL project to full completion, 2.6 Million Euros are still needed. As late Director General Amano called upon Member States to further contribute to the project in June Board of Governor. Japan has decided to allocate 1 Million Euro to the project. Japan also calls upon a wide range of Member States to further consider contributing.
In addition, it is important for the laboratories to make further efforts to strengthen partnerships with the private sector. Japan requests the Secretariat to report on this progress in a timely manner.
<ARTEMIS>
Madame Chair,
The Japan Atomic Energy Agency, the JAEA, is the sole research institute in Japan dedicated to comprehensive research and development in the field of nuclear energy.
The JAEA formulated the Medium/Long-Term Management Plan of their facilities with an aim to maintain and develop its R&D capabilities, with a three-fold strategy.
This includes, 1) Selection and consolidation of facilities, 2) Measures to keep safety of the facilities, and 3) Management of back-end issue.
The JAEA decided to proceed with the implementation of back-end countermeasures, and they published a long-term prospect and policy Roadmap in last December.
In this April, the Japanese Government requested an ARTEMIS mission to review the Roadmap. I would like to express our gratitude to the Secretariat for accepting our request. We are expecting to receive useful advice from the mission experts.
<Cooperation project with the IAEA and Fukushima Prefecture>
Last but not least,
Japan deeply appreciates the Secretariat’s support for the Cooperation Project between the IAEA and Fukushima Prefecture.
As written in the Director General’s report, ‘Strengthening the Agency's Activities related to Nuclear Science, Technology and Applications’, (GOV/2019/26), the IAEA has helped Fukushima Prefecture to strengthen their analytical capacity to measure the radioactive isotope tritium in environmental samples. Through those activities, the progress of the reconstruction of Fukushima has firmly proceeded. Japan will continue to seek the Secretariat’s continuous support.
With these comments, Japan takes note of the Agency’s report, GOV/2019/26.
Thank you, Madame Chair.
<General>
Japan continues to support the IAEA’s initiative “Atoms for Peace and Development”, and expects the Agency to further lead the continued development of peaceful uses of nuclear technology, and the facilitation of nuclear science, technology and applications in cooperation with Member States.
From this standpoint, referring to the Ministerial Declaration which was the outcome of the “Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Science and Technology,” held last November, we recognize that peaceful uses of a variety of nuclear sciences and technologies play an important role in achieving the SDGs set out by the United Nations.
In order for each IAEA’s Member State to achieve the SDGs , further strengthening of the activities of the IAEA in the fields of nuclear power and non-power applications including human health, cancer treatment, water management, food and agriculture, and the environment, is extremely valuable.
<Support for Peaceful Uses of nuclear technology by Japan>
Mr. Chair,
I would like to touch upon the matters on which Japan places importance as well as the activities of Japan in this area.
During the Ministerial Conference last November, the IAEA and a consortium of 11 Japanese universities and institutions signed a practical arrangement with a view towards enhancing their cooperation for human resource development in the field of nuclear medicine. Under this partnership arrangement, the consortium implemented a scientific visit from Member States and held a workshop in July. Based on consultation with the IAEA, three more workshops and two scientific visits this year, and more activities in next year are planned. I believe these activities have contributed for strengthening capacity building the field of nuclear medicine in Member States.
Additionally, since last year’s General Conference, Japan provided financial support for the IAEA initiatives in the fields of infectious disease prevention and cancer care, food productivity improvement and contamination control, through the PUI.
We will continue to actively contribute technology transfer of peaceful uses of nuclear applied technology to Member States.
<ReNuAL>
Mr. Chair,
We recognize that the Seibersdorf Laboratories play an important role in supporting the activities of the IAEA in meeting the needs of Member States’ interest of utilizing nuclear applications and technologies.
The renovation of the laboratories through the ReNuAL and ReNuAL+ projects provides more effective and efficient support for Member States which is a great benefit to all Member States.
Japan contributed to the ReNuAL and ReNuAL+ projects approximately in total 5.6 Million Euros 5 times in the past for supporting to approach the goal of the project.
To bring the ReNuAL project to full completion, 2.6 Million Euros are still needed. As late Director General Amano called upon Member States to further contribute to the project in June Board of Governor. Japan has decided to allocate 1 Million Euro to the project. Japan also calls upon a wide range of Member States to further consider contributing.
In addition, it is important for the laboratories to make further efforts to strengthen partnerships with the private sector. Japan requests the Secretariat to report on this progress in a timely manner.
<ARTEMIS>
Madame Chair,
The Japan Atomic Energy Agency, the JAEA, is the sole research institute in Japan dedicated to comprehensive research and development in the field of nuclear energy.
The JAEA formulated the Medium/Long-Term Management Plan of their facilities with an aim to maintain and develop its R&D capabilities, with a three-fold strategy.
This includes, 1) Selection and consolidation of facilities, 2) Measures to keep safety of the facilities, and 3) Management of back-end issue.
The JAEA decided to proceed with the implementation of back-end countermeasures, and they published a long-term prospect and policy Roadmap in last December.
In this April, the Japanese Government requested an ARTEMIS mission to review the Roadmap. I would like to express our gratitude to the Secretariat for accepting our request. We are expecting to receive useful advice from the mission experts.
<Cooperation project with the IAEA and Fukushima Prefecture>
Last but not least,
Japan deeply appreciates the Secretariat’s support for the Cooperation Project between the IAEA and Fukushima Prefecture.
As written in the Director General’s report, ‘Strengthening the Agency's Activities related to Nuclear Science, Technology and Applications’, (GOV/2019/26), the IAEA has helped Fukushima Prefecture to strengthen their analytical capacity to measure the radioactive isotope tritium in environmental samples. Through those activities, the progress of the reconstruction of Fukushima has firmly proceeded. Japan will continue to seek the Secretariat’s continuous support.
With these comments, Japan takes note of the Agency’s report, GOV/2019/26.
Thank you, Madame Chair.