International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

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Context

• The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said its experts deployed at the Russia-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant reported hearing numerous explosions over the past week, in a possible indication of increased military activity in the region.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

About

• The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is an intergovernmental organization that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and to inhibit its use for any military purpose, including nuclear weapons.

Establishment

• It was established in 1957 as an autonomous organization within the United Nations system; though governed by its own founding treaty, the organization reports to both the General Assembly and the Security Council of the United Nations.

HQ

• It is headquartered at the UN Office at Vienna, Austria.

Creation

• The IAEA was created in response to growing international concern toward nuclear weapons, especially amid rising tensions between the foremost nuclear powers, the United States and the Soviet Union.

Mandate

• The IAEA serves as an intergovernmental forum for scientific and technical cooperation on the peaceful use of nuclear technology and nuclear power worldwide.
• It maintains several programs that encourage the development of peaceful applications of nuclear energy, science, and technology; provide international safeguards against misuse of nuclear technology and nuclear materials; and promote and implement nuclear safety (including radiation protection) and nuclear security standards.
• The organization also conducts research in nuclear science and provides technical support and training in nuclear technology to countries worldwide, particularly in the developing world.
• Following the ratification of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in 1968, all non-nuclear powers are required to negotiate a safeguards agreement with the IAEA, which is given the authority to monitor nuclear programs and to inspect nuclear facilities.

Missions

The IAEA is generally described as having three main missions:

1. Peaceful uses: Promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear energy by its member states,
2. Safeguards: Implementing safeguards to verify that nuclear energy is not used for military purposes, and
3. Nuclear safety: Promoting high standards for nuclear safety.

Membership

• Any member of the UN or of any of the specialized agencies that signed the statute within 90 days after 26 October 1956 thereby became a charter member of the IAEA upon ratification of the statute.
• Other countries, even if not members of the UN or any of the specialized agencies, may be admitted by the General Conference of the IAEA upon recommendation of the Board of Governors.

Functions

• The main functions of the IAEA are to: encourage and assist research, development and practical application of atomic energy for peaceful uses throughout the world; establish and administer safeguards designed to ensure that such activity assisted by the Agency is not used to further any military purpose; apply safeguards to relevant activities at the request of Member States; apply, under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and other international treaties, mandatory comprehensive safeguards in non-nuclear weapon States (NNWS) Parties to such treaties.
• In carrying out its functions, the Agency conducts its activities in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter to promote peace and international cooperation, and in conformity with policies of the United Nations for furthering the establishment of worldwide disarmament through safeguards.

Reporting

• The IAEA is an independent international organization that reports annually to the UN General Assembly.
• When necessary, the IAEA will report to the UN Security Council in regard to instances of members’ noncompliance of safeguard and security obligations.

Verification

• Under Safeguards Agreements, IAEA inspectors regularly visit nuclear facilities to verify records maintained by State authorities on the whereabouts of nuclear material under their control, to check IAEA-installed instruments and surveillance equipment, and to confirm physical inventories of nuclear material.
• These and other safeguard measures provide independent, international verification that governments are abiding by their commitments to the peaceful use of nuclear technology. A precondition for the implementation of safeguards is a formal safeguards agreement between the Agency and the State.

There are four types of inspections:

1. Ad Hoc (to verify a state’s initial nuclear report)
2. Routine (the most common inspections which are performed routinely)
3. Special (supplementary inspections executed in unusual circumstances)
4. Safeguard Visits (inspections to declared facilities to confirm the safeguards design information)

The Additional Protocol is a more intensive, and voluntary, form of safeguarding, which allows for extended inspections with the most advanced technique. As a legal document, the Additional Protocol aims to provide assurances to both declared and undeclared nuclear sites.

Compliance

• In accordance with the Statute and existing practice, the Board is responsible for approving safeguards procedures and Safeguards Agreements, and for general supervision of the Agency’s safeguards activities. In a case of non-compliance with a safeguards commitment, the Board of Governors of the IAEA is to call upon the State in question to remedy any outstanding issues; the Board will then decide on its referral to the UN Security Council and General Assembly.

Issues and Challenges

• IAEA mission are growing, but its resources are still limited. Raising funds from the private sector or from public-private partnerships can lead to conflict of interest.
• It has no authority to act on its own; it relies on the willingness of nations to cooperate, or on a UN mandate. Therefore, the agency enjoys only "uneven authority".
• Non-cooperation from NPT non-signatory nuclear powered countries such as North Korea, Israel makes it almost impossible for the agency to monitor nuclear activities.
• Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) is a multilateral export control regime that seeks to prevent nuclear proliferation by controlling the export of materials, equipment and technology that can be used to manufacture nuclear weapons. It was founded in response to Indian nuclear test in1974.
• The Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is an international treaty whose objective is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and to further the goal of achieving complete nuclear disarmament. India is neither a signatory to NPT nor a member of NSG.
• IAEA has been accused of restricting the transfer of nuclear know-how to developing countries, hindering their social and economic development citing its statute as the reason behind this restriction
• IAEA response to Fukushima nuclear disaster was highly criticised as the agency failed to play a proactive role in nuclear safety after witnessing Chernobyl.

India and IAEA

• India is a founding member of the IAEA.
• Presently, 26 Indian nuclear facilities are under this international nuclear energy watchdog.
• India is actively contributing to the work of IAEA and assisting other countries in developing aspects of nuclear science.
• India signed the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement (CSA) and Additional Protocol (AP) with the IAEA in 2009 to send a strong signal to the international community that it is a “serious and responsible” nuclear weapons state amid its keen to become a member of NSG.
• IAEA can assist India to internationalise its Indigenous technologies developed by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, such as Bharat Kavach, a carbon nanotube-based bullet proof jacket, and Bhabhatron, a cobalt therapy machine for treating cancer, to other countries.
• Comprehensive Safeguards agreement: IAEA inspectors regularly visit declared nuclear facilities to verify records maintained by State authorities on the whereabouts of nuclear material under their control.
• Additional Protocol: It is a more intensive, and voluntary form of safeguarding, which allows for extended inspections with the most advanced technique. This legal document, aims to provide assurances to both declared and undeclared nuclear sites.

Way Forward

• The world must strengthen the ability of the IAEA to promote independent assessments of nuclear safety so that the public would be better served by it.

https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2023/sep/09/un-atomic-watchdog-warns-of-threat-to-nuclear-safety-as-fighting-spikes-near-plant-in-ukraine-2613282.html