IAEA3月理事会（議題4 原子力技術レビュー2024）ステートメント（海部篤大使）（英語）
令和6年3月5日
Thank you, Madam Chair,
Japan thanks the Agency for its report “Nuclear Technology Review 2024”, which provides a useful summary of the remarkable technical progress in a reader-friendly manner.
The report highlights the growing importance of the role of nuclear power in tackling climate change. We sincerely commend UAE for the success of COP28 and appreciate DG Grossi for the presence of the IAEA, including the delivery of the IAEA Statement on Nuclear Power. We look forward to the Agency’s active participation in high-level international climate and energy fora.
Chair,
Last year, Japan announced the future nuclear energy policy direction, acknowledging nuclear power as one of its key power resources to achieve carbon neutrality and energy security. With this policy, Japan is aiming to invest EUR 6.1 billion over the next decade to develop advanced reactors. Japan is pleased to support the IAEA’s various activities, such as building infrastructure for embarking countries who are considering deployment of new nuclear.
Additionally, I would like to highlight Japan’s progress on fusion. Thanks to the collaborative partnership between Japan and the EU, JT-60SA, the world’s largest tokamak today, has produced its first plasma last October. I believe this state-of-the-art machine is essential for the successful operation of ITER and further promotion of diversified fusion R&D. Japan also contributes to the development of “Fusion Key Elements” which is a novel work of the Agency in this area.
Chair,
Japan strongly supports the Agency’s efforts and makes significant contributions to projects including ZODIAC, NUTEC Plastics, Rays of Hope, Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme. Japan also welcomes the Atoms4Food initiative. Through these initiatives and other activities, Japan hopes that the IAEA will continue to play a central role in promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear technology.
Among these projects, I would like to underline the Rays of Hope Anchor Centre. Because Anchor Centres are key to the efficient delivery of assistance, Japan organized a network of 16 talented universities, research institutes and hospitals to act as a prominent Anchor Centre. I’m confident that this network, currently under examination by the Agency, will serve as a platform to arrange a nation-wide collaboration to support recipient countries and communities, and will play an indispensable role in enhancing the activities under the Rays of Hope initiative.
In addition, Japan’s present “Basic Policy for Nuclear Energy” includes a new description on the national production of Molybdenum-99/Technetium-99m, and strengthening R&D on Actinium-225 and Astatine-211, especially for medical uses. Many related activities are going on in Japan, and I hope this can be a potential area for our advanced cooperation with the Agency.
Chair,
Let me conclude my remarks by welcoming the Secretariat’s efforts to hold the IAEA Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Science, Technology and Applications and the Technical Cooperation Programme this November.
With these comments, Japan takes note of the Agency’s report, as contained in document GOV/2024/2, and approves the amendment to the Seat Agreement of the IAEA Marine Environment Laboratories, as contained in document GOV/2024/6.
Thank you, Chair.
Japan thanks the Agency for its report “Nuclear Technology Review 2024”, which provides a useful summary of the remarkable technical progress in a reader-friendly manner.
The report highlights the growing importance of the role of nuclear power in tackling climate change. We sincerely commend UAE for the success of COP28 and appreciate DG Grossi for the presence of the IAEA, including the delivery of the IAEA Statement on Nuclear Power. We look forward to the Agency’s active participation in high-level international climate and energy fora.
Chair,
Last year, Japan announced the future nuclear energy policy direction, acknowledging nuclear power as one of its key power resources to achieve carbon neutrality and energy security. With this policy, Japan is aiming to invest EUR 6.1 billion over the next decade to develop advanced reactors. Japan is pleased to support the IAEA’s various activities, such as building infrastructure for embarking countries who are considering deployment of new nuclear.
Additionally, I would like to highlight Japan’s progress on fusion. Thanks to the collaborative partnership between Japan and the EU, JT-60SA, the world’s largest tokamak today, has produced its first plasma last October. I believe this state-of-the-art machine is essential for the successful operation of ITER and further promotion of diversified fusion R&D. Japan also contributes to the development of “Fusion Key Elements” which is a novel work of the Agency in this area.
Chair,
Japan strongly supports the Agency’s efforts and makes significant contributions to projects including ZODIAC, NUTEC Plastics, Rays of Hope, Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme. Japan also welcomes the Atoms4Food initiative. Through these initiatives and other activities, Japan hopes that the IAEA will continue to play a central role in promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear technology.
Among these projects, I would like to underline the Rays of Hope Anchor Centre. Because Anchor Centres are key to the efficient delivery of assistance, Japan organized a network of 16 talented universities, research institutes and hospitals to act as a prominent Anchor Centre. I’m confident that this network, currently under examination by the Agency, will serve as a platform to arrange a nation-wide collaboration to support recipient countries and communities, and will play an indispensable role in enhancing the activities under the Rays of Hope initiative.
In addition, Japan’s present “Basic Policy for Nuclear Energy” includes a new description on the national production of Molybdenum-99/Technetium-99m, and strengthening R&D on Actinium-225 and Astatine-211, especially for medical uses. Many related activities are going on in Japan, and I hope this can be a potential area for our advanced cooperation with the Agency.
Chair,
Let me conclude my remarks by welcoming the Secretariat’s efforts to hold the IAEA Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Science, Technology and Applications and the Technical Cooperation Programme this November.
With these comments, Japan takes note of the Agency’s report, as contained in document GOV/2024/2, and approves the amendment to the Seat Agreement of the IAEA Marine Environment Laboratories, as contained in document GOV/2024/6.
Thank you, Chair.