A/39/PV.58 General Assembly

I invite the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mr. Hans Blix, to present the report of the Agency for the year 1983.1

The General Assembly has before it the annual report of the International Atomic Energy Agency for 1983, describing the Agency's activities in that year. In this statement I will supplement the report by commenting upon developments that have occl~rred in the nuclear field since the thirty-eighth ses<:cjon of the General Assem- bly. The Agency's two principal tasks are to promote the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and to assist in the efforts to prevent a further spread of nuclear weapons. In both respects the Agency's specific tasks are technical. They relate, for example, to the safe operation ofnuclear installations, to the safe disposal of nuclear waste, to the utilization of nuclear tech- niques in agriculture and to the verification of the whereabouts and use of fissionable material. As these objectives touch on the broader aims of supplying the world with energy, of increasing food supplies, promoting industry and helping in arms control efforts, our activities, technical though they are, attract a good deal of attention at the economic and political levels. 3. In the past year the economic recession and efforts to save energy have led to a continuation of the trend towards lower energy demands. The most conspicuous impact lies in the lower demand for oil. It is noteworthy that despite the fact that demand for energy in the industrialized world generally is stag- nating or shrinking, electricity demands continue to rise. However, because these demands have by no means grown as fast as predicted a number of years ago, there have been many cancellations or defer- ments of orders for electricity-generating stations in some countries. Among these are also many nuclear power stations. Nevertheless, with more nuclear power plants beginning operation at present and in the coming years, there is world-wide a steady growth in the production of nuclear power, which accounted for 12 per cent of all electricity generated in 1983. In France nuclear power already represents more than 50 per cent of the electric power, in Belgium and Finland more than 40 per cent and in Bulgaria, NEW YORK Sweden and Switzerland 30 per cent or more. In France and Belgium this percentage is expected to rise to as much a3 70 per cent and 50 per cent respectively by 1990. - 4. The nuclear industry, like other industries, is seeking ways of becoming more efficient and more economical. The search has not been in vain. Efforts to reduce construction times and thereby to contain construction costs by standardizing nuclear plants have met with success in countries like France and Japan. There has also been marked improvement in the performance ofnuclear power plants, for example in the Federai Republic of Germany and Japan. IAEA's computerized Power Reactor Information System, which provides a systematic analysis of operating explerience in member States, shows that operating time lost through planned or unplanned outages has been redu~ed in several countries. This is important for the economy of nuclear plants, with their high capital cost. 5. Nudear power is now being increasingly consid- ered in the area of low temperature heat application, where it can be a substitute for fossil fuels. In several member States considerable efforts have already been made to develop nuclear reactors for heat production or for co-generation of heat and electri- city. One advantage of such plants is that they would help to reduce the present air pollution problem in cities. 6. Another potentially important development en- couraged by IAEA is that manufacturers are showing interest in the possibility of building small and medium-sized nuclear plants. Such sizes could make the plants useful in developing countries, where electrical grids are often too small for large-capacity nuclear power plants. Moreover, industrialized coun- tries, too, seem to be taking an interest in smaller plants. 7. It is too early to predict what these developments may bring. However, it is relatively safe to predict that the demand for electricity will continue to rise and that orders for nuclear plants will pick up again, especially if construction times can be reduced through streamlined regulatory procedures, standard- ization and factory production of power plant ele- ments. 8. The application on an industrial scale ofany new technology to generate energy has a very long lead time. Scientists and engineers are continuing to work on new generations of power reactors. Advanced prototypes, such as the fast breeder reactor, are already in operation in some countries and being constructed in others. The experience gained in these countries will be ofuse to the whole world. For future energy provision for the world, the success of these prototypes is important. Just to give one figure, let me mention that the introduction of a breeder can emergeJ.l~e of nuclear wea.pons in regions of height- the first to use nuclear weapons. We believe that this ened mIlItary danger. In thIS context, great concern is strengthens considerably the security of non-nuclear arous{~d by the nuclear aspirations of such countries States as well. The adoption by all nuclear Powers of as South Africa, Israel and Pakistan. a commitment not to be the first to use nuclear 54. Given such conditions, an important element in weapons would be a major step towards excluding cutting off the nuclear threat and ensuring peace and the possibility of nuclear war. international security is the prevention of the prolif- 61. The Soviet Union believes that the time has eration of nuclear weapons. come to stop the nuclear conveyor belt. A simple and 55. It is by no means an easy task to ensure the non- effective step in this area would be a freeze on all proliferation of nuclear weapons. Efforts to achieve nuclear arsenals, first and foremost those of the this must take into account the different interests of USSR and the United States. The USSR favours the States, large and small, developed and developing, resumption and completion of the earlier trilateral nuclear and non-nuclear. It is, however, our pro- negotiations on the general and complete prohibition found conviction that what should transcend all such of nuclear-weapon tesIS and the establishment of a interests and dominate all considerations as the most m~r~tor~um on such te~ts. We also propose the important element in oyercoming the dangerous ratItIcatIOn of the treatIes already signed by the paradox of a nuclear missile age is the use of nuclear Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United energy for constructive purposes and not to destroy States of America in 1974 and 1976, that is, the civilization on Earth. Treaty on the Limitation of Underground Nuclear 56. It is from this point of view that we should Weapon Tests 4 and the Treaty on Underground consider the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Nuclear Explosions for Peaceful Purposes.s Weapons and also the non-proliferation regime based 62. The Soviet Union is absolutely determined to on it. During the 14 years of its existence, the Treaty achieve on the basis of the principle of equality and has proved to be an agreement of exceptional signifi- equal security the limitation and reduction of nuclear cance. It is a most important international instru- weapons until such time as they are totally eliminat- ment which determines the obligation of States to act ed. Were such determination to be demonstrated by in the interest of averting nuclear war, and it lays other nuclear-weapon countries, work towards nucle- down an international legal basis for collective efforts ar disarmament could be begun immediately. We in this sphere. It is noteworthy that this Treaty is also should like to note that we fully share the concern at the most universal of all existing international agree- the lack of progress in the area of nuclear disarm- ments aimed at restraining the arms race. The Treaty ament. At the same time we believe that such already unites more than three fourths of the States concern does not provide a justification for belittling of the world, and in the last few years alone such the. significance of the l'Yon-Prolif~ration Treaty, countries as Viet Nam, Egypt. Uganda, Papua New WhICh has already made a great contnbution towards Guinea and a number of others have become parties the real limitation of nuclear threats. to it. We welcome the accession of new States to the 63. In this connection it is important to stress that Treaty. the positive results achieved in preventing nuclear 57. At the same time, a further expansion of the proliferation strengthen and supplement efforts number of States parties to the Non-Proliferation aimed at reversing the nuclear arms race. It is Treaty remains a very important task, the fuItilment necessary constantly to increase efforts in both those of which would be a guarantee that a dangerous areas. Attempts to represent progress in one area as a nuclear confrontatim' would not involve additional pre-condition of progress in another can only make countries and that the means to achieve nuclear the entire process more difficult. Given the already disarmament would not become even more complex. complex state of international relations, there is a It is obvious that the interests of world security and grea~er need tha.n ever ~efore not for linkage, but for strict compliance with and the strengthening of the cuttmg through mternatIOnal problems, resolving one non-proliferation regime would be met by the adop- after another the problems related to averting nuclear tion of practical measures to curb the nuclear-arms war. race and bring about nuclear disarmament, in 64. Of particular significance at the present time accordance with article VI of the Treaty. are the preparations for the Third Review Confer- othe~ States to ensur~ the success of the ~onfere~ct:, for other areas of !AEA activity connected with the and; It attaches g~eat Importance t9 the actIve p~rtICI- non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. In CAS we patIOn of IAEA I~ those preparatIons for and In the promote the establishment ofan international system conduct of that Important forum. of supply. We are convinced that recognition by all 65. With the widespread development of atomic members of CAS of the close link between reliably energy thr0ughout the world, one element of great ensuring the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons significance IS the implementation by IAEA of its and nuclear supply on a long-term, guaranteed basis twofold task-namely, the further strengthening of is one of the most important elements for that the regime of the non-proliferation of nuclear weap- Committee's success. Measures to strengthen the ons and the promoting of international co-operation non-proliferation regime and to establish a system of in the peaceful uses of atomic energy. nuclear supply must be taken in a spirit of co- 66. In this connection it is necessary to work for ope~ation ~~d dialogue, 01! a basis ~f equali~~, and further improvement of IAEA safeguards and to not !n a spInt of co~frontatIon.or the Ju~taposItIOn of increase the Agency's effectiveness, strengthen the the m~erest~ of var~ous countnes. That. IS the earnest system's technological basis and improve the verifi- of fruItful InternatIOnal co~peratIOn In the area of cation machinery. the peaceful uses of atomIC energy. 67. The experience in the appliGation of IAEA 72. The S~viet Ul!ion considers that the.role played safeguards acquired o,,--er the years in which the Non- by I~A In w~rking out the Conv~ntIOn on th'e Proliferation Treaty has been in effect has convinc- Ph~s~cal ProtectIon of Nuclear ~atenal~ has been a ingly demonstrated that the functioning of control pOSItIve one: We favour the ra.pld en~ry mto force of machinery does not in any way violate the sovereign the C;onventIOn and the acceSSIOn to It ofthe.great~st rights of States or impede their peaceful activities in pOSSIble nu.mber of State~, for: we regard It as ~n the atomic field. With regard to the problem ef Important InternatIOna! leg~ Instrument that WIll increasing the effectiveness of IAEA controls, we he!p to prevent the prolIferatIon of nucl~ar.weapons. believe that the Agency should concentrate its efforts It IS.necessary that (lU, or.at least the maJonty, of the on safeguards, first ofall in those areas in which there partIes t9 the C;Oh"!ent~on be 90untnes that are is the greatest danger of a diversion of nuclear engagt:d In the InternatIOnal shIpm~nt of nucl~ar materials for the creation of nuclear weapons. In this matenals or t~rough whose terntones such shIp- connection, the problem also arises of increasing the ments are carned out. effectiveness of.IAEA control in the n~clear-thresh- 73. The Soviet delegation would like to stress in old State!;, partIcularly t~ose ~tates whIch have not particular that the consistent strengthening of the acceded to the Non-ProlIferatIOn Treaty. non-proliferation regime is only one of the important 68. We have already had occasion to stress from areas of the struggle against the nuclear threat. We this rostrum the unique nature of the activity of believe that another very important element is the IAEA, which is the only international, universal body fact that only through a lasting, universal non-prolif", of its type engaged in control activity in one of the eration regime can genuine, fruitful co-operation areas of the limitation of nuclear weapons. In among States be assured in ensuring the application considering possible machinery for verification of of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. The less compliance with future agreements in the disarm- danger there is of nuclear war, the broader the ament area, particular attention is paid to the horizons for such co-operation and the greater the considerable experience that IAEA has already human and material resources released for creative gained. The Soviet Union also believes that with pursuits through the use of nuclear energy. Here we regard to specific measures of nuclear disarmament see truly inexhaustible opportunities ofsolving many use could be made, in particular, of IAEA experience of the problems facing mankind. in control activities. 74. A mere 30 years ago, on 27 June 1954, the 69. The Soviet Union has given and will continue Obninsk atomic electric power plant first fed power to give whole-hearted support to IAEA in carrying into the Moscow energy system, thus laying the out its function of ensuring the non-proliferation of foundation for the use of a new source of electrical nuclear weapons. We also support the Agency's ener~. Since energy derived from splitting the secretariat in its task of developing the safeguards uramum atom was first placed at the disposal of mall system and organizing the activities of the Depart- for peaceful, constructive purposes, nuclear energy in ment of Safeguards. Our country plans to spend in our country, and in many other countries, has moved 1985 in excess of 800,000 roubles on programmes in from a basic research ?nd scientific experiment stage the Soviet Union for the scientific and technical to that ofa rapidly developing sector ofthe economy. support of IAEA safeguards. The total expenditures There has been simultaneous rapid development of planned for the safeguards programme for the period the use of atomic energy in industry, agriculture and 1983-1985 is 2.2 million roubles. in scientific studies. NU91ear medic$ll techl?-iques 70. In line with the wishes of many non-nuclear h~ve be$un to ta~e theIr place among clInIcal, States and as an act of good will, the Soviet Union diagnostic and healmg tools. has expressed its readiness to place under lAEA 75. The Soviet Union is actively engaged in interna- safeguards part of its own peaceful nuclear activity. tional co-operation in this area, on both a multilater- m.terna~Ional nuclear safety ~dVISOry. group ,,:hICh appreciation of the outstanding co-operation and WIll reVIew and analyse sa~ety Infof!11atlon, prOVIde a assistance which Austria receives from the Agency. forum for.an e~change ofmformatIon and formulate 113. Mr. TOMASZEWSKI (Poland): At the outset, concepts In thIS field.. . .. my delegation would like to thank Mr. Hans Blix, the ~04. As s!ated on preVIOUS. occaSIOns, AustrIa IS Director General of the International Atomic Energy mterested .m the. trat?-s-frontIer ~spec~s of nuclear Agency, for his able presentation ofthe very informa- power statIons. It IS WIth great ~at~sfactIon tJIat I ~an tive report of the Agency for 1983. An overall Inform the Assembl~that negot~atIons on thIS subject assessment ofthe Agency's work in that period by the between. t~e RepublI~ of AustrIa and the Czechoslo- Polish Government was given during the twenty- vak SOCIalIst RepublIc have been con~luded success- eighth regular session of the General Conference, fully an~ that an a~ee1I!ent on questI~~s.of mutual held at Vienna from 24 to 28 September. Therefore, ~nterest In connectIon WIth nuclear ~acI1ItIes entered besides reaffirming once again Poland's strong sup- Int~ force last Ju~e. That agreem~nt IS at?- example ~f port for the Agency and commitment to its principles fruItful co-operatIon between neIghbOUrIng States m and objectives, I shall confine myself to several the nuclear field. remarks and comments concerning some aspects of 105. Austria is already having, or intends in due the Agency's activities and also the conditions in time to have, talks on this matter with all its which the Agency is to fulfil its obligations under its neighbours. mandate. 106. Let me now elaborate briefly on the Agency's 114. The question of the proper use of nuclear safegua~ds s¥stem. The. main function of the Agen- energy in today's wo!ld is one of the most important cy's verIficatIon system IS to create confidence among issues that could deCIde the fate oftomorrow's world. States in a way that guarantees that all nuclear The growing spread of nuclear energy for military activities submitted tc? t!lat syst~m serve exclusiv~ly purposes, the continuous testing of nuclear weapons peaceful purposes. ThIS IS essentIal to remove anXle- in different parts of the globe, the development of ties whose consequences would hamper the develop- new types of nuclear weapons and, even more ment of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. alarming, the installation of the most recent types of 107. It is our conviction that nothing can provide a nuclear weapons in the heart of Europe by the most more fruitful climate for the promotion of nuclear powerful North Atlantic Treaty Organization Sta~e~ . with significant nuclear programmes and Weapons, which is to be held next year. actI~I~les a~e .now m~rrbers of the Agency. and 120. One of LIe most important aspects of the pa.rtlclpate m ItS work . N~body c~n <?verestImate Agency's activity is the valuable work ofCAS, which, thiS fact and, needless to say, Its real significance goes ~ccording to the lAEA report, made further progress far beyond the formal statement. In 1983. We extend our support also to that impor- 116. Poland traditionally extends its support to the taI?-t sphere of~AEA a~tivity in the fOf!llulation of~he main areas of activities of the Agency: first, to its pnnclples of 1OternatIOnal co-operation conc~rn1Og function ofstrengthening the regime ofnon-prolifera- the transfer of technology and nuclear matenals. tion of nuclear weapons as ~n important component 1~1. ~y de~egation also finds it important to note of the system of measures aimed at preserving peace with satisfactIOn that the resources devoted to techni- and creating confidence between States; secondly, to cal ass~stance offered by the Agency to the developing its function of promoting broad international co- countnes during the period under review grew, as the operation in the use of atomic energy for peaceful report shows, by 25 per cent as compared with the purposes; and, thirdly, to its function of multiple previous year. In this connection, my delegation application of radiation technology and nuclear expresses its deep conviction that, like those re- methods, particularly in agriculture, health protec- sources, the effectiveness of the programme of tech- tion and scientific research-that is to say, in areas in nical assisitance will increase as well. which nucl~ar energy for peaceful purposes is widely 172. In conclusion, I should like to inform the used also ID, Poland. General Assembly that the Polish Government ac- I!7. The Agency's report states that in 1983 nuclear cepts the report of ~h~ Agency. At ~he same time, we power plants accounted for about 12 per cent of the express our appreciatIon t~ the Dlr~ctor General of world's total electricity generation and that new the.Agency, Mr. Hans BlIx, and It~ staff for ~he power plants are constantly under construction. It is de~lcate~ work they performed dur10g the pen~d expected that by the year 2000 the share of world be10g reviewed by ou~ Gen~ral Assemb~y and to wish electricity generation accounted for by nuclear plants them further success In theIr work, so Important for will amount to 20 per cent. Those figures testify to the future of the world. the fact that the significance of the nuclear power 123. ¥r. ENDREFFY (Hungary): The Hungarian plant is still growing. In connection with that some delegation has carefully studied the Agency's 1983 aspects of the activities of the Agency are of p~rticu- ~eport a~d h~s listened attentively to the concise but lar significance. The first aspect is the activity of the InformatIve 1Otroductory statement by the Director op~rational safety review teams, initiated in 1983, General, Mr. Hans Blix. We agree with the main which at t~e request of member States are reviewing ~spects of bot~ the ~eport and the statement. I should and assess10g all aspects of the safe operation of lIke to t?-ank t~e DIrector General and the Agency's nuclear power plants. In our opinion, it is important secretanat part~cularly for the very substantive and that this new aspect ofactivity ofthe Agency could at thought-provoking study entitled "Review of the the same time reinforce the role and the level ofwork Agency's Activities" which they have prepared in ~f nati~n~l nuclear sa.fety organs. The second aspect accordance ~ith resolution <;JC(XXVI)/RES/399,6 of IS the 10Cldent reportIng system, which in 1983 was the twenty-sixth regular seSSIOn of the General Con- in its very initial stage ofimplementation..Poland has ference, and which offers a comprehensive analysis advocated the establishment of the system and of the Agency's activities during the past 25 years. ~onsiders that it c~n become a. very. import~nt 124. I ~o not wish to dwell on the review and the 1Ostrum~nt ~f ~ollectlOn and. an~lysls of l!1formatIon report, since our representatives had the opportunity concern1Og 10Cldents occurnng m operating nuclear to express their views thereon at both the meeting of power plants. The third and last aspect is the Power the Board of Governors and at the twenty-eighth Reactor Information System, which collects a wide regular session of the General Conference. Rather I range ofdata from all operating nuclear power plants, will limit myself to making some general remarks. The meeting rose at 5.35 p.m. NOTES IIntemational Atomic Energy Agency, The Annual Report for 1983, Austria, July 1984 (GC(XXVIII)1713 and Add. I & 2); submitted to members of the General Assembly by a note by the Secretary-General (A/39/458 and Add.I). 2United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1046, No. 15749. 3Ibid., vol. 634, No. 9068. 40jficial Records ofthe General Assembly, Twenty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 27, annex 11, sect. 13, document CCD/431. 5The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. I: 1976 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.77.IX.2), appendix Ill. 6See Intemational Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions ofthe General Conference, twenty-sixth regular session. 7Ibid., twenty-seventh regular session.