IAEA Director General's Introductory Statement to the Board of Governors

(As prepared for delivery)

Before I begin my remarks, let me welcome the Cook Islands as the 179th Member State of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Mr Chairperson,

I have recently returned from Tehran where last week I met with President of the Islamic Republic of Iran H.E. Mr Masoud Pezeshkian, Foreign Minister H.E. Mr Abbas Araghchi, and Vice-President of the Islamic Republic of Iran and President of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) H.E. Mr Mohammad Eslami, and other senior Iranian officials. In addition to the meetings, I travelled to the nuclear sites of Fordow and Natanz where I visited the enrichment plants that are under Agency safeguards and regular inspections, and other enrichment-related installations. I will describe the results of the trip later in my statement.

Before travelling to Tehran, I was in Baku, Azerbaijan, where the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is taking place. It is clear States are embracing nuclear science, technology and their applications to mitigate and to adapt to the most important challenge we face, and that they want to do even more.

We have the tools: from nuclear power plants that produce a quarter of the world's low-carbon power, to the nuclear science that has created hundreds of new crop varieties able to grow reliably and abundantly even in harsh climates. When I look at the progress of the IAEA's key initiatives we have launched together in the past five years and at the work of our technical cooperation programme, I am optimistic, and I know you are too.

Next week, here at IAEA headquarters in Vienna, we will host the Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Science, Technology and Applications and the Technical Cooperation Programme.

All Member States have shown strong interest in attending, with many indicating plans to participate at high levels. A significant number have expressed their intention to deliver statements during the Ministerial Segment, and many delegations will be led by Ministers or Deputy Ministers.

The Conference will show the impact of our work in scientific research and capacity building and create awareness of the importance of nuclear science and technology in development, thereby encouraging partnerships, and mobilizing resources.

Food and agriculture, and health and nutrition make up half of the IAEA's core technical cooperation programme for 2025, with another fifth encompassing safety. This is reflected in the positive response we have had to the Atoms4Food, Rays of Hope, ZODIAC and NUTEC Plastics initiatives, and our shared resolve to achieve levels of safety essential to the sustainable use of nuclear technology.

Let me give you a brief update on our key initiatives. As the IAEA and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) mark the 60th anniversary of the Joint FAO/IAEA Center and the first anniversary of the joint Atoms4Food initiative, almost all countries have expressed support for this important initiative. Through Japan's generous contribution of more than €6.6 million, Atoms4Food will support countries in Africa, Latin America and Asia to combat pest-borne diseases through the Sterile Insect Technique, improve livestock production, boost food safety and increase crop variety.

Under Rays of Hope, Mahidol University's Faculty of Medicine Ramthibodi Hospital in Thailand has become the latest Anchor Centre. This is the fourth in the Asia Pacific and tenth overall. Meanwhile, three private dosimetry companies - IBA Dosimetry, PTW-Freiburg and Standard Imaging - have joined forces with the IAEA to provide in-kind support to the cancer care efforts of low and middle-income countries. Since formally agreeing in June to further strengthen our joint efforts, the IAEA and the OPEC Fund for International Development (OPEC Fund) have been working together to find ways of providing Member States additional support through Rays of Hope.

To strengthen the practice of nuclear medicine and radiology across the globe, the IAEA last month in Vienna held the fifth International Conference on Hybrid Imaging, where multimodality imaging techniques were discussed.

Zoonotic Disease Integrated Action, or ZODIAC, expanded its activities in Research and Development and is increasing its capacity building activities through technology that detects high-risk pathogens. This month, the Kingdom of Morocco hosted a meeting to review the achievements of ZODIAC in the Africa Region and to discuss future collaborations with African initiatives and task forces.

NUTEC Plastics continues to expand our understanding of microplastic pollution in the ocean. The samples returned from our mission to Antarctica have been analysed and our scientists at the IAEA's Marine Environment Laboratories in Monaco have for the first time identified the main plastic polymers. Their laboratory results reveal the presence of microplastics in all samples, even in those coming from sites as remote as Antarctica's Weddell Sea.

Work on the expansion of the Global Water Analysis Laboratory Network (GloWAL) continues with a meeting for the Spanish speaking Latin American and Caribbean region taking place this week, while the GloWAL baseline survey has so far collected 85 responses from 65 countries.

We continue to progress smoothly toward completion of the final phase of the renovation of our Nuclear Applications laboratories in Seibersdorf under ReNuAL2 and I look forward to the official opening next summer.

Your support of these initiatives and of the technical cooperation programme are crucial. As of the end of September this year, we have received €96 million in payments to the TCF, a rate of attainment of just over 93%. I encourage all Member States to pay their contributions to the TCF in full and on time. I also remind all Member States also of the importance of timely payment of National Participation Costs. Finally, I invite Member States in a position to do so, to support the programme through extrabudgetary contributions.

Mr Chairperson,

Research reactors provide many benefits to society, from testing materials for the nuclear industry to producing radioisotopes such as Mo-99 for medical imaging and Lu-177 for cancer treatment. Last week, the IAEA hosted the International Conference on Research Reactors, the largest international forum of its kind, to discuss the continued success of these important facilities.

In terms of nuclear power reactors, today 415 operate in 31 countries, making up almost 374 gigawatts of installed capacity and providing about 10 per cent of the world's total electricity.

As was evident at COP29, the world is serious about boosting investment in nuclear energy to meet energy security and climate goals. We are now building concrete steps to get us there.

At the sidelines of the COP meeting, I signed several agreements to expand the IAEA's cooperation with important partners. The IAEA and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) agreed to broaden their collaboration in the nuclear energy sector to help countries achieve net zero. This for the first time extends the cooperation between the IAEA and the EBRD beyond nuclear and radiation safety issues.

I also reinforced the IAEA's partnership with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Nuclear energy and renewables working hand-in-hand offer a credible path to a sustainable energy future. The IAEA and IRENA are focusing on joint missions, training, data-sharing, and case studies to support global energy planning and clean energy goals.

An increase in nuclear power capacity requires investment in the nuclear field's workforce, which will need to grow and replace retirees. A new IAEA and LinkedIn Practical Arrangement, also signed at COP, will bring networking and training opportunities, furthering the IAEA's capacity building efforts and supporting our work to bring more women into the sector and to reduce barriers they face.

Demand for nuclear power is being driven by population growth, energy security and independence, climate concerns, electrification and industrialization, and the digital revolution. Generating Artificial Intelligence requires a lot of electricity.To give a comparison, one AI prompt uses as much power as a lightbulb shining for 20 minutes, or about ten times as much energy as a simple internet search. The International Energy Agency expects the total electricity powering data centres to double by 2026.As technology companies, including Google, Microsoft and Amazon, invest in such centres they have struck supply deals for nuclear power, generated both by traditional large nuclear power plants and small modular reactors (SMRs).

The nuclear energy plans and ambitions of countries and industries around the world are being reflected in the data. In its high-case scenario, the IAEA's latest projections show global nuclear power generating capacity increasing two and a half times to 950 gigawatts by 2050. In the low-case projections, capacity rises 40 per cent to 514 gigawatts. SMRs account for about one quarter of the capacity added in the high case and for about 6 per cent in the low case scenario.

Last month, we held the first international conference on SMRs and their applications here in Vienna. It highlighted the growing global interest for SMRs, including among technology companies and developing countries, and the importance of our work in this area. A new publication Small Modular Reactors: Advances in SMR Developments 2024 introduced our new SMR catalogue that features 68 active SMR designs globally, as listed on the IAEA's Advanced Reactor Information System, or ARIS, database. The booklet explores SMR technologies under development, their potential growth trajectory, and the lifecycle of SMR development from concept to decommissioning. It also examines the unique global role the IAEA plays in supporting sustainable nuclear power programmes and supporting technology development and deployment in Member States.

Prior to the conference, the Agency's Nuclear Harmonization and Standardization Initiative, or NHSI, held its third plenary meeting.

The next phase of NHSI will focus on providing tools to help understand regulatory commonalities and differences better, examine technology-specific user requirements and explore what is needed to facilitate the approval of what is known as long-lead items. I am confident regulators and industry will adopt an enabling mindset to overcome some of the barriers that limit SMR development worldwide.

We also continue to engage positively with a number of key stakeholders as we develop our plans and preparations for our new initiative, ATLAS, which will enable the growth of nuclear for civilian maritime applications.

In response to increasing demand for IAEA support in the legal area, this month in Serbia the Agency held the first interregional advanced training course on nuclear law. The intensive programme, financed through the technical cooperation programme, brought together lawyers and officials with a solid background in nuclear law from 29 countries.

Public support is crucial to delivering on nuclear power's promise. Next week, we will hold our first Nuclear Stakeholder Engagement School, hosted by the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Trieste, Italy.

Energy demand will continue and we need to support promising future solutions. Earlier this month, government ministers, senior officials, representatives of public and private sectors and investors, from dozens of countries, convened in Rome for a ministerial meeting of the World Fusion Energy Group, or WFEG. The meeting was organized by the IAEA and hosted by the Government of Italy. Discussions focused on three main topics: the status of fusion energy; global collaboration and public-private partnerships; and sustaining resources and exploring alternative business opportunities.

The IAEA launched two fusion publications, the World Fusion Outlook 2024, an overview of the current state and direction of the fusion field, and Fusion Key Elements, whichhighlights the importance of a common vision and understanding among stakeholders of the paths to commercial fusion energy.

In a clear indication of growing optimism about its immense potential to mitigate climate change while fueling economic growth, more than US$8 billion of funding is flowing into projects by more than 40 private sector entities developing fusion energy.

Fusion energy may become reality sooner than many believed possible just a few years ago. For this to happen collaboration will be key, both across sectors and borders.

Mr Chairman,

This week, the war in Ukraine will pass its one-thousandth day. Since the very start, the IAEA has been supporting nuclear safety and security in Ukraine.

A total of 155 missions comprising 157 Agency staff members have been deployed as part of our continued presence at all five nuclear power plant sites.

The situation at the Zaporizhzhya NPP remains precarious. It continues to face challenges not least because of the vulnerability of its limited off-site power supply lines.

All 6 reactors remain in cold shutdown and the Agency's continued stipulation is that no reactor is to be re-started as long as the nuclear safety and security situation at the Zaporizhzhya NPP remains in jeopardy.

I reiterate the importance of the Agency being granted timely and appropriate access to the facility and staff so that our experts can make accurate and complete assessments of the safety and security situation.

The Khmelnitsky NPP, the South Ukraine NPP and the Rivne NPP continue to be the only operating nuclear power plants in Ukraine producing electricity for its grid.

Just before we met in September, I travelled to Ukraine on my 10th mission. In my discussions with the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other high-level officials in Kyiv, the Agency was asked to expand its activities by assessing the stability of the energy infrastructure vital to the safety of Ukraine's Nuclear Power Plants.

In September, Agency staff conducted visits to the Kyivska electrical substation and followed this with October visits to six other critical electrical substations. The IAEA visits, underpinned by robust technical analysis of the safety requirements provided by a stable off-site electricity supply, documented extensive damage to all the substations visited, concluding that the grid's capability to provide a reliable off-site power supply to Ukrainian NPPs has been significantly reduced. Repairs and additional protective measures are being implemented by Ukraine.

So far, a total of 67 deliveries have ensured that nuclear safety and security equipment worth €12 million has reached Ukraine. The Agency also delivered medical supplies, including two ambulances, as well as mental health training, which will ultimately benefit nuclear power plant staff.

Procurement of assistance in the areas of human and animal health, soil and water management, and food safety, is under way under the IAEA's programme of assistance for the Kherson Oblast.

In addition, the Agency has initiated the first phase of the IAEA Support and Assistance Mission on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources.

We are thankful for the extrabudgetary contributions of our 30 donor states and the European Union, which makes possible so much of our support to Ukraine.

Mr Chairperson,

Since it began in August last year, Japan has discharged into the sea 10 batches of ALPS-treated water - 79 000 cubic meters - from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. The IAEA has continued its independent monitoring and analysis and confirmed the tritium concentrations in the discharged batches were far below operational limits and were in line with international safety standards.

Following announcements by the People's Republic of China and Japan, the IAEA conducted Additional Measures related to the ALPS-treated water with the participation of China and other Member States. The Agency will continue to implement Additional Measures and facilitate the wider participation of technical laboratories under the framework of the IAEA. The positive result came after detailed and constructive negotiations among relevant stakeholders.

Next month, the IAEA Task Force will carry out its third mission to Japan since the start of the ALPS treated water discharge. It will assess whether the approach taken by TEPCO and the Government of Japan to discharge ALPS-treated water continues to be consistent with international safety standards.

This month, Member States will receive invitations to the International Conference on Nuclear and Radiological Emergency Preparedness and Response: Building the Future in an Evolving World(EPR 2025) to be held in December 2025 in Riyadh, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The International Conference on Enhancing Nuclear Safety and Security Through Technical and Scientific Support Organizations (TSOs) will be held in Vienna at the start of next month.

Mr Chairperson,

The Secretariat has continued to engage Australia and Brazil on safeguards-relevant aspects of their respective naval nuclear propulsion programmes. I have provided two updated reports and will continue to keep the Board and Member States informed on relevant developments.

Regarding the issue of Iran's nuclear programme, you have before you my latest report on verification and monitoring in the Islamic Republic of Iran in light of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 (2015).

Following my last report, Iran's stockpile of uranium enriched up to 20% and up to 60% U-235 continued to increase.

However, during the high-level meetings between the Agency and Iran in Tehran on 14 November 2024, the possibility of Iran not further expanding its stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60% U-235 was discussed, including technical verification measures necessary for the Agency to confirm this, if implemented. On 16 November 2024, the Agency verified at Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant and at Fuel Enrichment Plant that Iran had begun implementation of preparatory measures aimed at stopping the increase of its stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60% U-235. Exchanges between the Agency and Iran on this matter are expected to continue.

It has been almost three years and nine months since Iran stopped implementing its nuclear-related commitments under the JCPOA, including provisionally applying its Additional Protocol and therefore it is also over three and a half years since the Agency was able to conduct complementary access in Iran. Consequently, the Agency has lost continuity of knowledge in relation to the production and inventory of centrifuges, rotors and bellows, heavy water and uranium ore concentrate.

You also have before you my report on the NPT Safeguards Agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iran says it has declared all nuclear material, activities and locations required under its NPT Safeguards Agreement. However, this statement is inconsistent with the Agency's findings of uranium particles of anthropogenic origin at undeclared locations in Iran. The Agency needs to know the current location(s) of the nuclear material and/or of contaminated equipment involved. Iran still is not implementing modified Code 3.1, which is a legal obligation for Iran, having stated it had suspended such implementation. These outstanding safeguards issues stem from Iran's obligations under its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and need to be resolved for the Agency to be able to provide assurance that Iran's nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful.

During my high-level meetings in Tehran, substantive discussions of the issues covered by the Joint Statement agreed in March 2023 continued, including in particular on the issue related to the discrepancy in the nuclear material balance and possible elements to address Varamin.

During our meeting, Iran agreed to respond to the Agency's concerns related to Iran's withdrawal of the designation of several experienced Agency inspectors by considering the acceptance of the designation of four additional experienced inspectors, a decision I welcome.

As you are aware, I have made it a priority to strengthen the legal framework for safeguards. Since the last Board meeting in September, Timor-Leste has brought into force a comprehensive safeguards agreement with a small quantities protocol (SQP) based on the revised standard text and an additional protocol. The number of States with safeguards agreements in force is currently 191, and 143 of these States have additional protocols in force. I call upon the remaining three States Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons without comprehensive safeguards agreements to bring such agreements into force without delay. I also encourage States that have not yet concluded additional protocols to do so as soon as possible, and I reiterate my call for States with SQPs based on the original standard text to amend or rescind them as soon as possible.

The IAEA continues to monitor the DPRK nuclear programme.

The Agency has observed that the 5MW(e) reactor at Yongbyon was not operating between mid-August and mid-October. Our experts believe this would provide sufficient time to refuel the reactor and start its seventh operational cycle. After the irradiated fuel that has been withdrawn from the reactor has been allowed to cool for several months it is able be reprocessed.

In mid-September, the DPRK published photographs of General Secretary Kim Jong Un visiting a "uranium enrichment base." The depicted centrifuge cascades and infrastructure are consistent with the layout of a centrifuge enrichment facility and with the structure of the main building at the Kangson Complex and its newly constructed annex. The photograph showing the installation of centrifuges in the annex is consistent with General Secretary Kim's call "to further augment the number of centrifuges in order to exponentially increase the nuclear weapons". This display of an undeclared enrichment facility at Kangson and the call "to further strengthen the foundation for producing weapon-grade nuclear materials" are of serious concern.

There are indications that the light water reactor at Yongbyon continues to operate intermittently, which is consistent with an ongoing commissioning process. There are indications that the centrifuge enrichment facility at Yongbyon continues to operate.

There were no indications of significant changes at the Nuclear Test Site at Punggye-ri, which remains prepared to support a nuclear test. The conduct of a nuclear test would contravene UN Security Council resolutions and would be a cause for serious concern.

The continuation and further development of the DPRK's nuclear programme, including the revelation of the undeclared enrichment facility and the ongoing commissioning of the LWR, is a clear violation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions and is deeply regrettable. I call upon the DPRK to comply fully with its obligations under relevant UN Security Council resolutions, to cooperate promptly with the Agency in the full and effective implementation of its NPT Safeguards Agreement and to resolve all outstanding issues, especially those that have arisen during the absence of Agency inspectors from the country. The Agency continues to maintain its enhanced readiness to play its essential role in verifying the DPRK's nuclear programme.

In Syria, because of our renewed engagement, the IAEA is now analysing environmental samples it collected during its visits to relevant locations in Syria. I will report to the Board once the process and discussions with Syria are complete.

Mr Chairperson,

The fifth cycle of applications for the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme has closed and we are selecting the next round of fellows. Since the programme's inception, 560 students from 121 Member States, studying in 72 countries, have been selected as fellows. I encourage Member States, institutions and industry to partner with us to ensure the continued viability of the programme. We welcome additional extrabudgetary contributions in cash and in-kind as well as opportunities for hosting internships.

Preparations are under way to implement several professional visits under the Lise Meitner Programme (LMP) next year and beyond. We encourage interested Member States and organizations to continue reaching out to us with offers to host future LMP visits.

At the Secretariat, we are close to reaching gender parity in the Professional and higher categories. Women now make up 49% of those ranks, compared to less than 30% at the start of my tenure in 2019 when I set the target of 50/50 by 2025 and created the policies and actions to get us there.

Mr Chairperson,

Due to timely payment of assessed contributions, the Agency had a sound liquidity situation throughout this year. I thank you all for making extra efforts and urge to continue with this good practice as timely payment is crucial for the Agency to effectively carry out all its activities.

The priorities of our Member States remain our priorities. We will continue to make full use of the IAEA's unique mandate and precious resources to assist you in addressing your greatest needs and opportunities, while working towards international peace, security and development.

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