The agency celebrated its 60th anniversary with a new motto, “Atoms for peace and development”. Summarizing the agency’s 60-year existence, IAEA’s Director General Yukiya Amano highlighted Russia’s leading role in developing safe and efficient nuclear power technologies. According to his words, modern nuclear power units must be both safe and affordable, which is just the case with the ones offered by Russia and the IAEA. Rosatom CEO Sergei Kirienko said that the newly commissioned Novovoronezh Unit 6 based on a Generation III+ reactor and meeting the IAEA’s latest safety requirements is an example of how the agency could help many countries benefit from nuclear power.

“As of today, Russia has undertaken to build over 30 power units. For us, this is a great responsibility. We accept it and cooperate with every country in strict compliance with nuclear non-proliferation and safety requirements,” Sergei Kirienko said, addressing the General Conference. “On 10 August, Kudankulam Unit 1 was handed over to the people of India. The second unit has been connected to the power grid. Right now, we are preparing to pour concrete at Units 3 and 4. By the end of the year, we expect to sign the documents for building Units 5 and 6.”

In the course of the IAEA General Conference, Rosatom signed a range of cooperation agreements with foreign partners. The company signed an intergovernmental partnership agreement with Tunisia on peaceful uses of nuclear energy. The parties intend to cooperate in many areas, including development and improvement of Tunisia’s nuclear infrastructure, designing and construction of commercial and research nuclear reactors, exploration and development of uranium deposits, nuclear fuel cycle services, staff training, etc. “We are very pleased to sign this agreement with Russia. We have already worked together before, and, hopefully, this agreement will reinforce our ties,” noted Slim Khalbous, Tunisia’s Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research. “Specifically, we would like to intensify our cooperation in student exchange and scientific research. We want to use the Russian expertise, since our nuclear industry is still in its infancy.”

One more cooperation agreement on civil nuclear energy was signed with Cuba. The document provides for a vast scope of cooperation – production of isotopes and their use in industry, medicine, agriculture, environmental protection and research, nuclear medicine and radiation technologies, training of nuclear workforce, etc.

A memorandum on training of workforce in nuclear energy and adjacent areas was signed with Jordan. The parties are going to work on joint educational efforts, provide under- and postgraduate student exchange, organize internships and summer schools, arrange academic contests on fundamental sciences, develop training aids, tutorials and seminars, carry out joint research in nuclear energy, etc.

Finally, Russia and Finland signed a protocol on the practical measures to be implemented under the Finnish-Russian agreement on nuclear emergency notifications and exchange of nuclear facility information dated 19 January 1995. The document specifies the procedures for exchange of information on nuclear and radiation safety and provides for regular training sessions and consultations to be jointly arranged by Rosatom and STUK (Finland’s Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority).

During the IAEA General Conference, Rosatom’s Research Institute of Atomic Reactors (RIAR) was designated an International Center based on Research Reactors (ICERR). “This designation equals recognition of our institute as one of the world’s leading research centers. We are the largest nuclear research organization in Europe, with a large amount of research accomplished. I am sure that this status will be a great boost to our cooperation with foreign partners,” noted RIAR Director Alexander Tuzov.

In the course of the 60th IAEA General Conference, Russia, France, China, South Korea, Japan and other countries took part in a round-table discussion to touch upon the development of fast-breeder reactors. The discussion was initiated by Rosatom, whose experts reported on successful operation of Beloyarsk Unit 4 based on BN-800, a prototype of tomorrow’s commercial fast-breeders, and another Beloyarsk power unit based on the BN-600 reactor, which has been in operation for over 30 years.

Late in the second day of the conference, a monument to Igor Kurchatov, the founder of nuclear energy industry, was unveiled at Russia’s Permanent Mission in Vienna. The diplomats had received the monument from Rosatom. Mr. Amano thanked Sergei Kirienko for the gift. “Russia has distinguished hi-tech traditions. I have had a chance to visit many research institutes in the line of duty, and Russia’s contribution to research cooperation has always been visible. I am thankful for your huge efforts in technology, which now bring benefits to all IAEA members,” noted Yukiya Amano.

Sergei Kirienko handed out honorary decorations to nuclear industry veterans from different countries in recognition of their significant personal contribution to international nuclear cooperation. The awards were granted to the veterans formerly engaged into construction and operation of Russian reactors built in their homelands, among which are the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Belarus, Finland, France and Vietnam.

These Grand Old Men of the global nuclear industry are established experts, whose deep insight and eminence are unquestionable, and opinion leaders, who are committed to development of nuclear power industry. As part of the 60th IAEA General Conference, the International Union of Veterans of Nuclear Energy and Industry held a round-table meeting entitled 60 Years of IAEA: Nuclear Energy as a Factor of Sustainable Development.

The meeting was focused on issues and trends of both global and local nuclear power industries, Russia’s role in worldwide development of nuclear, prospects for construction and modernization of nuclear stations, cooperation with global nuclear construction leaders, and safety issues.

In celebration of the anniversary conference, Rosatom also presented the IAEA with a torte in the shape of a Generation III+ power unit. Yukiya Amano appreciated the present. Despite its formidable size, the torte was quickly taken to pieces.

Rosatom’s third gift was a mock-up of Novovoronezh Unit 6, the world’s first Generation III+ nuclear power unit. “Globally, Russia is a major provider of sophisticated nuclear technologies with a focus on safety and reliability,” Yukiya Amano stressed.

“The IAEA Conference is always a great opportunity to communicate with colleagues. We had very productive and detailed talks with all of our partners. Fortunately enough, such talks are growing constructive with every year,” said Rosatom CEO Sergei Kirienko, summing up the conference.