N-power access should not be limited to developed world: Amano

Mumbai, Jan 17 (PTI) Director General of InternationalAtomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Yukiya Amano today made a pitchfor nuclear power access to developing nations, even as hecalled for uniform responsibility to prevent nuclearproliferation.

"Many countries are considering introducing nuclearpower are in the developing world and I welcome this. Itshould be available to developing countries and they have thesame right as developed countries to use nuclear technologyfor peaceful purposes and the same responsibility both toensure the highest safety standards and to prevent nuclearmaterials from falling into the hands of terrorists," he said.

Amano was speaking here after inaugurating the 21stAnnual Conference of the Indian Nuclear society on ''Impact ofRadiation Technology on Human health and Environment.''

Amano said all countries of the world have an equalresponsibility to work to prevent the proliferation of nuclearweapons and access to nuclear power should not be limited todeveloped nations.

The IAEA expects between 10-25 new countries to bringtheir first nuclear plant on-line by 2030 and the centre ofgrowth is in Asia. Major expansions in existing nuclear powerprogrammes are planned in India as well as in China, Japan andthe Republic of Korea, he said.

"Out of the 61 nuclear reactors under construction, 39are in Asia," he said.

Amano also said India''s economic dynamism in the pasttwo decades has given hope to many developing countries.

"In the field of peaceful nuclear technology, India''ssuccess was the result of detailed long-term planning and theaccumulation of home-grown expertise through high-qualityeducation and training," he said. .

Amano, who gave away the INS Homi Bhabha Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr Anil Kakodkar (former Chairman ofAtomic Energy Commission) said, IAEA''s goal is to providepractical assistance to nations interested in using nucleartechnology.

He said India''s cooperation with IAEA is likely toincrease in the area of decommissioning in the coming years asmany older installations in India will require extensiverefurbishment or de-commissioning.

The Director General is on a two visited the AdvancedCentre for Treatment, Research