Contenido principal
2024
The CSN deploys an extensive agenda at the IAEA General Conference
The Spanish delegation held bilateral meetings with counterparts from Germany, El Salvador, Indonesia, Netherlands and Switzerland
Spain emphasised the importance of conventions within the IAEA’s framework during its official statement
Within the scope of the 68th edition of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference, the Spanish Nuclear Safety Council held several bilateral meetings to address matters of interest to the Spanish regulatory body. The CSN delegation, led by its president, Juan Carlos Lentijo, met on Tuesday afternoon with representatives from the Swiss regulator (ENSI). They reviewed the activities conducted between both institutions under the Memorandum of Understanding signed last June. These activities addressed regulatory practices regarding occupational radiological protection at nuclear facilities and operational experience at KWU-designed nuclear power plants.
The Memorandum aims to facilitate the exchange of information on nuclear safety and radiological protection between both countries and highlights the commitment to strengthen and develop bilateral relations, with special mention of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and related activities.
The CSN also held a meeting with the delegation from the Indonesian regulatory body, BAPETEN, continuing the bilateral relations initiated in December 2022, when some representatives of this institution visited the CSN. Although Indonesia does not have any nuclear power plants, it hosts three research reactors and several nuclear fuel cycle facilities, as well as infrastructures that use radioactive sources in medicine and industry.
The series of meetings continued with the one held with the German delegation (BMUV), where knowledge management and talent retention at the German regulatory body were discussed, as well as other technical matters, such as the interest to increase cooperation in the fields of KWU reactors—of which the Trillo nuclear power plant is an example—decommissioning and waste management. Additionally, the Spanish delegation met with representatives from the Netherlands to discuss issues related to human resources, including recruitment, training and competence management, gender equality, diversity, and inclusion.
The CSN also met with representatives from El Salvador, with whom a Memorandum of Understanding is being drafted, to cooperate in nuclear safety and radiological protection regulation, This follows El Salvador’s intention to start a nuclear energy programme in the country.
Foro events and Spain´s statement
CSN representatives were also present at the inauguration of the Ibero-American Forum of Radiological and Nuclear Regulatory Bodies (FORO) stand. Moreover, the FORO held a side event as part of the General Conference, where both the group’s future challenges and latest milestones were discussed, with sp
ecial emphasis on the gender perspective in the nuclear sector, following the publication of FORO’s position paper on gender, diversity, and inclusion last May.
Furthermore, as part of the General Conference, Spain’s ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations and international organisations based in Vienna, María Sebastián de Erice, delivered Spain’s official statement. She highlighted that "the various conventions within the IAEA framework are a cornerstone in ensuring the technological, radiological, and security of all nuclear applications, and Spain actively participates in all the Meetings of the Parties in their respective review cycles". She also stressed the need for concerted action by the international community, in which multilateral institutions such as the IAEA have proven capable of responding to the major challenges “which are now global".