nuclear-news

International safety plan for nuclear plants, but only “voluntary”

due to opposition from some member countries, including those planning to build their first nuclear power plants, which regard Amano’s plan as too stringent, the final draft of the plan specifies that IAEA inspections will be “voluntarily” accepted by member states…

Policy focuses on natural disasters, IAEA to call for nuclear crisis team, Japan Times, Kyodo, 7 Sept 11,  VIENNA — The International Atomic Energy Agency will call on its members to establish an emergency team to respond to major nuclear accidents worldwide, part of an agency plan to enhance nuclear safety, according to a draft obtained Tuesday.

The Vienna-based nuclear watchdog also plans to dispatch safety investigators within three years to all member countries who operate nuclear power plants, following the Fukushima nuclear crisis, according to the draft.

During the June ministerial conference, Amano unveiled his plan to conduct snap nuclear safety inspections in countries with nuclear power plants, which will cover about 40 plants, about 10 percent of the total in the world, over the three years.

But due to opposition from some member countries, including those planning to build their first nuclear power plants, which regard Amano’s plan as too stringent, the final draft of the plan specifies that IAEA inspections will be “voluntarily” accepted by member states…

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110906x1.html

The agency’s director general, Yukiya Amano, has said the plan, which was drawn up after a June ministerial meeting on boosting nuclear safety, will focus especially on contingencies such as natural disasters and power blackouts.

A progress report on the plan will be delivered at an IAEA board meeting and general conference to be held in Vienna in September 2012….

Member states are also asked to work toward “establishing a global nuclear liability regime with a view to providing appropriate compensation for nuclear damage.”

During the June ministerial conference, Amano unveiled his plan to conduct snap nuclear safety inspections in countries with nuclear power plants, which will cover about 40 plants, about 10 percent of the total in the world, over the three years.

But due to opposition from some member countries, including those planning to build their first nuclear power plants, which regard Amano’s plan as too stringent, the final draft of the plan specifies that IAEA inspections will be “voluntarily” accepted by member states…

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110906x1.html

September 7, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | 2 WORLD, politics international