FM calls for increasing IAEA technical cooperation fund


Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has called for ensuring access to technology, financing nuclear power projects, and increasing IAEA technical cooperation fund for further development of nuclear energy.

In his remarks at the Nuclear Energy Summit in Brussels today, he said provision of nuclear power reactors, nuclear fuel and other associated infrastructure to the developing countries in accordance with respective safeguard obligations should be ensured. He said financing for nuclear energy, and multilateral development funds, need to be catalyzed.

The Minister said International Atomic Energy Agency’s capacity for technical assistance in peaceful uses of nuclear energy may be facilitated through either a dedicated funding stream or through enhanced allocations to existing technical cooperation fund.

Ishaq Dar said Pakistan will remain a steadfast partner of the international community and the IAEA in further enhancing role of nuclear technology for energy and other peaceful purposes.

Highlighting the potential
of Pakistan in Nuclear energy sector, he said the country has hundred reactor-years’ experience of safely operating nuclear power plants.

He revealed that nuclear energy constitutes around eight percent of our installed electric generation capacity as currently Pakistan has six operating nuclear power plants generating 3,530 MW of electricity.

The Foreign Minister reaffirmed that Pakistan stands ready to share its experience and expertise in peaceful uses of nuclear technology with the world as country has fully trained human resource capable to support nuclear power infrastructure.

Ishaq Dar further said that our robust regulatory infrastructure ensures comprehensive safety and security of national nuclear installations and materials across all domains.

Source: Radio Pakistan