March 23, 2005 — By Louis Charbonneau, Reuters
PARIS — Nuclear power can play a key role in the 21st century in
helping nations meet their energy needs and reduce the spread of
greenhouse gases, a statement backed by nearly all 74 states at
a nuclear conference said.
The declaration was issued at the end of a 2-day conference called
"Nuclear power for the 21st century" organised by the
U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and hosted by the
French government.
"A vast majority of participants affirmed that nuclear power
can make a major contribution to meeting energy needs and sustaining
the world's development in the 21st century," the statement
said.
Nuclear power "does not generate air pollution or greenhouse
gas emissions," it said, adding that nuclear power generation
was a proven technology that can deliver safe and affordable electricity.
A European expert at the conference said on condition of anonymity
that only "a handful" of states objected to the view that
nuclear energy could play a key role in this century -- among them
oil-rich Saudi Arabia.
On Monday, IAEA head Mohamed ElBaradei said atomic power was coming
back into vogue. "All indicators show that an increased level
of emphasis on subjects such as fast growing energy demand, security
of energy supply and the risk of climate change, are driving a reconsideration
in some quarters of the need for greater investment in nuclear power,"
ElBaradei said.
The closing statement said participants agreed that the "health
of the environment ... is a serious concern that must be regarded
as a priority by all governments."
It also said states must ensure the highest possible level of nuclear
safety to avoid accidents. Safety and Security
The statement also touched on the risk that terrorists might attack
atomic facilities or that nuclear material could be stolen for use
in weapons. "States must make the necessary arrangements to
ensure the highest level of security of nuclear material and facilities,"
it said.
It also called on governments to ensure there were "appropriate
options for the management and disposition of nuclear fuel"
to prevent nuclear waste from becoming a burden for future generations.
ElBaradei said on Monday that despite an improved atomic energy
industry: "Nuclear power was dealt a heavy blow by the tragedy
of the 1986 Chernobyl accident, a blow from which the reputation
of the nuclear industry has never fully recovered."
The explosion at the Chernobyl plant in Ukraine, the world's worst
civil nuclear accident, spewed a cloud of radioactivity across Europe
and has been blamed for thousands of deaths from radiation-linked
illness. More than 100,000 people had to be resettled.
Source: Reuters
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