IAEA Director General Grossi Discusses Global Non-proliferation, Nuclear Safety Issues with Senior US Officials in Washington DC
The IAEA promotes a strong and sustainable global nuclear safety and security framework in Member States, working to protect people, society and the environment from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation
By R Anil Kumar
Washington DC. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi met high-level officials from the US administration to discuss important current issues related to non-proliferation and nuclear safety worldwide, during a visit to Washington DC where he also spoke to the heads of the World Bank and Asian Development Bank about the financing of nuclear energy projects.
It was the Director General’s first visit to the US capital since President Donald Trump began his current term in office in January. The United States was a driving force behind the establishment of the IAEA in 1957 to enable countries to benefit from the many positive peaceful uses of nuclear energy, while preventing atomic bomb proliferation.
During a three-day visit that ended on Wednesday,23 April, Director General Grossi met Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and the chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), David Wright.
“The United States is an indispensable partner in our important work to make the world safer and more prosperous,” Director General Grossi said.
“In this regard, I’m very encouraged by my discussions in Washington DC this week and the strong support for the IAEA’s mission, especially our non-proliferation work and our efforts to promote the safe operation of nuclear power globally,” he said.
In his meetings with World Bank President Ajay Banga and ADB President Masato Kanda, Director General Grossi discussed the important role of nuclear energy in addressing some of the world’s most pressing development challenges and the opportunities for increased cooperation with multilateral development banks (MDBs) to help realize the full potential of peaceful nuclear applications.
“To achieve sustainable development and prosperity, the world needs an abundance of clean, reliable and sustainable energy,” Director General Grossi said.
With World Bank President Banga, Director General Grossi shared the IAEA’s perspective on nuclear energy and said the IAEA stands ready, upon request, to provide technical support to MDBs, particularly on nuclear infrastructure development including nuclear safety, security and safeguards.
The World Bank and other MDBs currently do not contribute financing to nuclear power new build projects, although some MDBs have provided lending for upgrades to existing nuclear power reactors or their decommissioning.
Director General Grossi said that financing nuclear power would better align MDBs with the “new global consensus” forged at COP28 in Dubai, where the world called for accelerating the deployment of nuclear power along with other zero emission energy technologies to achieve deep and rapid decarbonization.
In addition, the Director General spoke at two high-profile think-tank events organised by the Council on Foreign Relations and Carnegie Endowment for International Peace respectively, answering questions on Iran’s nuclear programme, North Korea’s nuclear activities, the renewed worldwide momentum for nuclear energy and other current issues.
At Carnegie, he also engaged in a lively exchange with a group representing the next generation of nuclear professionals.
The Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), a global security organization, hosted Director General Grossi for a discussion about the IAEA’s key role in effectively safeguarding the expansion of nuclear energy.
“We are working with everyone, especially nuclear newcomers, to ensure that every project is going down the right path in terms of safeguards, safety, and security,” he said at the NTI event.
