Fukushima crisis poses challenge to IAEA members: Amano
Apr. 5, 2011
The current nuclear crisis in Japan has enormous implications for nuclear power and poses a major challenge to all countries concerned, Yukiya Amano, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said Monday at the opening of a review meeting on the Convention on Nuclear Safety.
''We cannot take a business-as-usual approach,'' Amano said. ''More needs to be done to strengthen the safety of nuclear power plants so that the risk of a future accident is significantly reduced.''
He told representatives of the 72 contracting states to the convention, which took effect in 1996, that public confidence in nuclear power has to be restored by the most robust international safety standards and full transparency.
The participants in the review meeting, which takes place every three years, are to discuss reports on nuclear safety submitted by contracting parties, including Japan, seven months ahead of the meeting.
A seminar focusing on the accident at Fukushima Daiichi atomic plant will take place on the sidelines of the meeting later Monday. According to Amano, specialists from Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency, Tokyo Electric Power Co., which operates the plant, the United States and European countries will give presentations.
(Distributed by Kyodo News on April 4, 2011)
''We cannot take a business-as-usual approach,'' Amano said. ''More needs to be done to strengthen the safety of nuclear power plants so that the risk of a future accident is significantly reduced.''
He told representatives of the 72 contracting states to the convention, which took effect in 1996, that public confidence in nuclear power has to be restored by the most robust international safety standards and full transparency.
The participants in the review meeting, which takes place every three years, are to discuss reports on nuclear safety submitted by contracting parties, including Japan, seven months ahead of the meeting.
A seminar focusing on the accident at Fukushima Daiichi atomic plant will take place on the sidelines of the meeting later Monday. According to Amano, specialists from Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency, Tokyo Electric Power Co., which operates the plant, the United States and European countries will give presentations.
(Distributed by Kyodo News on April 4, 2011)
