STATEMENT By Dr. Shaul Chorev Director General, Israel Atomic Energy Commission

Size: px
Start display at page:

Download "STATEMENT By Dr. Shaul Chorev Director General, Israel Atomic Energy Commission"

Transcription

1 STATEMENT By Dr. Shaul Chorev Director General, Israel Atomic Energy Commission Professor Zeev Alfassi, Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Professor Yigal Ronen, President of the Israel Nuclear Society, Dr. Yaakov Leichter, President of the Israel Society for radiation protection, Dr. Pierre Goldschmit, Members of the organizing Committee, Dear friends and colleagues, I would like to begin by stressing how content I am to have my first public address as Director of the Israel Atomic Energy Commission before such an august audience. The biannual conference of the Israeli Nuclear Societies is clearly today a major scientific forum for nuclear scientists from Israel as well as from abroad to discuss and exchange views and ideas on the different aspect of nuclear sciences. The State of Israel, the Jewish State, is ever proud of major contributions by Jewish scientists to the nuclear physics. The most prominent is of course Albert Einstein, but just to name few other: Leo Szilard, Lise Meitner, Edward Teller, Eugene Wigner, Lev Landau, Robert Openheimer, Niels Bohr and Richard Filenman are names that have left a significant mark on the history of physics.

2 Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank the organizers for the opportunity given to me to present the views of the IAEC. After a long period of stagnation, the nuclear industry is lately witnessing the beginning of a world wide renaissance. Countries world over are going through a stage of significant economic growth which brings along a steep rise in energy demands in general and in electricity consumption in particular. This growth, coupled with the rising trend of the oil prices and growing need for energy sources that do not contribute to global warming, have raised the attractiveness of nuclear energy. Moreover, the current rise of oil prices comes as a timely reminder of the need for the industrialized countries to strengthen their efforts to develop balanced energy strategies based on diversified sustainable fuel sources. Many countries in Asia, Europe and North America, have shown interest in increasing the number of nuclear power plants. China for example plans to build more then 20 new nuclear power plants in the next twenty years. Our region is not exempt from this trend and in the past year most Middle East countries have also shown interest in looking into nuclear energy, some with a more eager approach than others. Naturally, any country planning to embark on such a project would be required to first prepare an adequate technological infrastructure. The two main challenges of the nuclear power industry are safety and non-proliferation. In our opinion, safety has to be proven to the highest degree of public confidence, so that citizens of the country hosting the

3 nuclear facilities, as well as of its neighbors, can rest assured that every measure is taken in order to avoid hazards. In light of this growing demand for nuclear energy in the world, we believe that there is a need to define parameters for the spread of nuclear technologies. Such parameters should aim at striking a balance between allowing nuclear energy in order to meet the growing demand, while minimizing the proliferation risks associated with fuel cycle related technologies. The heaviest responsibility for achieving this delicate balance lies with the suppliers. There is no question that all countries have to fully honor their international non-proliferation obligations as a prerequisite to access to nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. Proliferation risks which have been well recognized over the past 60 years are related mostly to the dual use nature of fissile material production facilities. These risks mandate limited access to sensitive technologies. Supply of nuclear reactors as a "black box", along with supply of the fuel for the entire lifetime of the reactors, and a scheme for "take-back" of the spent fuel by the supplier are examples of creative solutions to this problem. Adequate measures and mechanisms to ascertain that nuclear technologies are used for peaceful purposes only is another major contribution to the minimizing of proliferation risks. Enhanced IAEA safeguards as well as enhanced international enforcement are two major elements in this regard. A commitment by potential user states to refrain from independent fuel cycle, to ratify and implement the Additional Protocol, and apply appropriate safety and physical security measures are crucial.

4 All these elements add up to a policy that could convert a potential risk into an opportunity. We remain hopeful that both suppliers and potential user states will consider these and other parameters when embarking on the course of nuclear energy and technologies. The State of Israel, its nuclear establishment and scientists possess the expertise and the know-how to assure best utilization of nuclear energy: - On the non-proliferation front Israeli scientists, and some of them are present among us today, have made significant contributions to the advancement of proliferation resistant reactor designs, contributions for which they have gained world wide acknowledgment. - On the safety front, it has been the IAEC culture and policy, in both our nuclear centers, Soreq Nuclear Research Center as well as the Nuclear Research Center Negev, to pursue uncompromising standards of safety. This categorical approach has been the cornerstone of our operational procedures. Looking at our own needs, nuclear energy could have an important role to play when it comes to plan the future shape of Israel's energy sources. The continuous growth of Israel's energy needs, poses a national multifaceted challenge.

5 Would the nuclear option be considered a viable one, the unique conditions of the region, and I am referring mainly to its volatile security conditions, may require unique solutions. One of Israel's biggest assets at national level is its sizable community of nuclear scientists. As we have all witnessed in the last few months, this last year has not been an easy one for the Israeli academy at large. The IAEC sees it as its main responsibility to participate with others in the effort to ever upgrade the professional skills and expertise of Israel's nuclear community. Preparing for our nuclear scientists of tomorrow is a major task. With this goal in mind, and as one of the largest employers in the Negev, the IAEC is making every effort to see to it that its scientists get the best possible opportunities for their training and scientific activities. Last month, the IAEC initiated a highly successful recruitment fair at the Ben-Gurion University. This event is an example of how we at the IAEC can play a role in moving forward on the issue of future skilled employees. As a part of its national responsibilities towards Israel's society, the IAEC has taken upon itself to assist in the higher education of youth in the Negev region. Scientists from the Nuclear Research Center Negev (NRCN) are associated with schools in Yeruham, Dimona and Be'er Sheva, in group and individual tutorial, to ascertain that all have equal opportunities in accessing best science and technology.

6 Nuclear science has a role to play in our region not only in providing the needed energy but also in different aspects that are the subject of your deliberations in this important conference. In recent years the IAEC has worked hand in hand with the International Atomic Energy Agency to extend the benefits of the peaceful applications of nuclear energy in the areas of health, agriculture, environment and industry, both to new constituencies among our own as well as to our neighbors. Just to name a few examples: - As part of a regional IAEA Technical Cooperation Israel has developed Sterile Insect Technique that is used to control the Mediterranean fruit fly. This project is conducted by the Plant Protection and Inspection Services at the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture and is aimed at expanding the area-wide suppression of the Mediterranean fruit fly. This project is by definition of a regional nature, since flies do not recognize international boundaries, and cooperation exists already between Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian bio-agricultures for the benefit of the whole region. - Isotopes produced at the Soreq Nuclear Research Center are regularly transferred to entities within the Palestinian Authority for medical purposes. - Just a few days ago I had the pleasure of approving the participation of a Palestinian participant in the Israel delegation to the Technical Assistance IAEA meeting that will take place later this year.

7 Recognizing the benefits of such undertakings, and taking into account our advanced capabilities in several pertinent areas, we reiterate our offer to share these benefits with other states and peoples within and outside our region. Mr. Chairman, Colleagues, Before concluding my presentation I wish to comment on Iran's nuclear program. The ongoing clandestine nuclear program of Iran, coupled with the rhetoric of this regime's leaders, is a cause of great concern to us. We are doing our outmost to deal with this threat on all fronts. Yet, we desire for a better future in which a true and stable peace will reign between us and our neighbors. In such a reality, a meaningful cooperation on the different peaceful uses of nuclear energy between all countries of the region and for the benefit of all the people will be one of the mending blocks for a prosperous and flourishing future. Thank you.