IAEA General Conference deals with nuclear safety, environmental issues; approves $162 million budget for 1990.

Nuclear safety and other environment-related issues were among the major concerns of the 1989 General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), held in Vienna from 25 to 29 September. A budget of $162.8 million, representing zero growth in real terms, was adopted for 1990, and a target of $45.5 million for voluntary contributions to support technical assistance and cooperation programmes approved.

Agency Director General Hans Blix, a national of Sweden, was reappointed for a third four-year term as of 1 December 1989.

He told the Conference that world electricity demand would double over the next 15 to 20 years. Global energy supply would continue, as at present,to be a mix, he predicted. The question was the future composition of the mix.

Intensified concern regarding the environmental impact of burning fossil fuels was now affecting the psychological climate for nuclear energy, Mr. Blix noted. Generating electric power resulted in 25 per cent of all carbon dioxide emissions-a fundamental element in the creation of the "greenhouse effect".

What will be the 'mix'?

Experts attending a special two-day scientific meeting held during the Conference considered the contribution of nuclear power to the future mix of world energy sources. They acknowledged that political, social, economic and institutional factors might outweigh technological considerations in determining that mix. Public perceptions and enhanced safety features would be significant in evaluating merits of both new construction and the continuing operation of existing power plants, today numbering over 400, they concluded.

Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar, in a message to the Conference, said IAEA played a vital role in providing technical assistance to developing countries. More than 1,000 ongoing technical co-operation projects in food production, medicine, mining and hydrology were part of the Agency's indispensable contribution to creating sustainable economic development.

Its promotion of nuclear safety in design, construction and operation of nuclear facilities, and management of radioactive wastes, he noted, was essential to improvements in benefits and minimizing dangers of nuclear energy. Agency experience in elaborating procedures for accident notification and assistance, in collaboration with other UN organizations, had been invaluable. And its verification role under the safeguards system in the NonProliferation Treaty was essential to that important aspect of arms limitation, he continued.

Attended by high-level representatives from 98 States, including 16 Ministers, the General Conference called for further action to strengthen international cooperation in areas of nuclear safety and radiological protection. It also dealt with issues related to the nuclear capability of both South Africa and Israel.

Appreciation was expressed for continuing work by an expert group on a code of practice for transboundary movements of radioactive wastes, expected to be completed in 1990. A report on liability for nuclear damage was also expected for review that year. International research under IAEA auspices was to continue on new types of power reactor models and systems, particularly on their safety features.

The Conference expressed its continuing support for projects related to nuclear safety standards and codes, basic safety principles for nuclear power plants, operational safety review teams, radiation protection advisory teams, and safety principles and technical criteria for the underground disposal of high-level radioactive wastes.