‘India has potential to play global role in nuclear technology market’ | India News

International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi

Rafael Mariano Grossi, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), was in India just lately and met with prime policymakers. In an interview with TOI’s Surojit Gupta, Grossi mentioned the conditions in Iran and Ukraine and praised India’s nuclear power initiatives. Excerpts:
How do you view the nuclear state of affairs in Iran?
We nonetheless have numerous work to do. I’ve mentioned many instances that Iran doesn’t have nuclear weapons in the meanwhile, however they’re enriching uranium at nearly weapon grade stage and that they haven’t offered clear solutions on a lot of issues to IAEA for fairly a very long time. We are being honest, however on the similar time agency in that we don’t need to exaggerate something, however neither do we wish to banalise any state of affairs. Iran has a vital, bold, technologically developed nuclear programme they usually have to present the solutions. We see that there’s a motion across the situation. We have witnessed an essential assembly in Beijing just lately between Russia, China and Iran. We assume it is constructive. We see that there has been an alternate or no less than a letter despatched by US President Donald Trump to the Supreme Leader. Even with the polemic across the contents and the replies, and so forth it means that there’s a recognition that there has to be an engagement of some type. So sure, it’s a global concern for the explanations I defined. At the identical time, this ought to be an incentive for all of us to work collectively to keep away from an escalation which, in opposition to the backdrop of what’s occurring in the Middle east, could be tragic.
The engagement you talked about… Is there a chance of that happening with the highest powers to discover a resolution?
There is a chance, however this is not going to be countless or the time is not going to be limitless. There ought to be a way of finality. We need an issuance which is constructive, which is diplomatic and non-violent, however on the similar time one that gives the worldwide group with assurances. It’s in everyone’s curiosity. This is what I say after I discuss to my Iranian counterparts.
You have made a lot of visits to Ukraine. How is the state of affairs there now?
It continues to be fragile. And for so long as fight continues, it would nonetheless be the case. Let’s always remember the Zaporizhzhia nuclear energy plant is on the entrance line. It’s very uncovered. It has been focused in the previous. There have been many blackouts, conditions the place the facility provide to and from the station was fully interrupted. You bear in mind one of many cooling towers final summer time was up in fireplace. So it’s clearly a goal. The presence of IAEA there has mitigated the dangers, however not eradicated them. We look with expectation, like everyone else, the potential of a dialogue and negotiation main to a ceasefire and probably and hopefully to peace. But till that occurs, our concern is that no nuclear accident takes place.
How do you see India’s transfer to use nuclear power in the nation’s power transition plan?
I see this very positively. India has prime notch technology which it derived initially from western technology. Then you went into your personal indigenous improvement with excellent reactors, 20 of them working flawlessly. But nonetheless nuclear is a minute proportion of the nationwide electrical energy manufacturing. And I used to be completely satisfied to see that govt is aiming at going a lot, a lot greater – 100 gigawatts, which is feasible. I see India as a rustic that has huge inner potential, but additionally, if I’ll, I see India enjoying a role globally. Nuclear technology is being exported. And I do not see why India shouldn’t be becoming a member of the household of distributors who’re lively in the global market.
And how do you see the latest announcement of permitting the non-public sector in the small reactor phase?
That for me is a elementary piece of the puzzle that reveals that govt is adjusting its method and making an attempt to attune to the realities in the world. Nuclear is capital intensive, and never all the things can come from public or public utilities. And when you’ve gotten the wants that you’ve in India, you’ve gotten to discover public-private partnerships and even non-public possession of crops, together with small modular reactors. I see this transformation in the authorized and coverage method from India as a step, an enormous step in the best route.