Nuclear Power: Benefits and Responsibilities
Amb. Jackie Wolcott, U.S. Special Envoy for Nuclear Nonproliferation
Special Address at the MENA Nuclear Energy Forum
Doha, Qatar
November 10, 2008
In my capacity as Special Envoy for Nuclear Nonproliferation, I’ve had the privilege of traveling the world and
discussing civil nuclear cooperation with many countries considering the development of nuclear power. This is my 3rd
trip to the Middle East in 9 months, including a warm reception in Doha this past June. Next week, I will be travelling
to North Africa for consultations there.
During these visits, I have the opportunity to discuss the great benefits nuclear power has to offer, for countries that
have indicated a commitment to its pursuit along a responsible path. Today, I’m particularly pleased to address so many
decision makers in a key region which has so much promise for significant nuclear energy development.
Around the world, nuclear energy is enjoying a potential reemergence. Concerns over electricity demand, energy security,
and climate change have given rise to renewed global interest in nuclear power. Most experts now agree that this will be
a vital component to helping us meet our growing energy demands over the next few decades.
As a result, numerous countries have expressed serious interest in new nuclear power plants. Although the majority of
these will be sited in countries with existing programs, an ever-growing number of states have announced plans to
develop their first nuclear plant.
Interest is clearly percolating in all corners of the globe, and particularly in the Middle East and North Africa – the
MENA region.
Causes for Concern
This is not the first time we’ve witnessed great expectations for nuclear power. In 1947, the American journal Business
Week predicted that “all central power will be drawn from atomic sources” within a few decades.
In 1954, the New York Times quoted a U.S. official predict that Americans would one day “enjoy electrical energy in
their homes too cheap to meter” thanks to nuclear energy.
While this initial enthusiasm would eventually prove overly optimistic, nuclear energy did enjoy a period of rapid early
growth, and by the mid-1970’s there were 55 nuclear plants operating in the United States alone.
Safety
The growth of nuclear power in my country suffered a more serious setback in 1979 with the world’s first major nuclear
accident at Three Mile Island. Seven years later, nuclear power suffered another blow with the accident at Chernobyl, a
combined result of design flaw and human error.
I mention these incidents because many lessons have been learned from them. Although today’s new reactor designs are
much safer than yesterday’s, the possibility of accidents still exists. And as we say with all seriousness, an accident
anywhere is an accident everywhere.
As nuclear power gears up to expand, all eyes will be on the ability to safely operate these new plants, particularly
those in states with new nuclear power programs.
Security
On September 11, 2001, the United States suffered the worst terrorist attack in its history. Although the phenomenon of
global terrorism was not new, these attacks unmistakably raised the stakes of the threat we now face.
Many steps have since been taken to heighten security at nuclear plants and to prevent the illicit trafficking of
materials which could be used for a radiological dispersion device – a dirty bomb – or worse, a nuclear weapon.
In the face of “nuclear terrorism,” the importance of nuclear security, especially in states now just turning to nuclear
power, has never been so great.
Nonproliferation
The proliferation risks associated with the nuclear fuel cycle must be managed. Everyone in this forum is well aware
that – in addition to producing reactor-grade fuel – a uranium enrichment plant can be used to produce weapons-usable
material. A relatively simple reconfiguration of an enrichment cascade could enable the production of highly enriched
uranium.
Because of this risk, these facilities must be operated in an open and transparent manner, and full-scope international
safeguards must be applied to ensure their peaceful applications.
Unfortunately, this is not always the case. As we all know, Iran developed in secret a substantial nuclear
infrastructure – including a uranium enrichment program that it continues to operate in violation of United Nations
Security Council obligations. This is not only unacceptable; it also risks undermining the sincere intentions by
neighboring states to enlist the atom for peaceful uses.
Iran has claimed that its nuclear program is in complete conformity with its nuclear obligations, and has asserted that
concerns expressed with its nuclear activities are politically motivated and imagined. This is simply not the case.
As the latest report by IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei describes, Iran has failed to take the steps necessary
to “build confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of its nuclear program.” Instead, serious concerns and
outstanding questions remain regarding this program, particularly aspects of Iran’s past activities that suggest a
“military nuclear dimension” to this nuclear program.
The net result is that the IAEA is unable to “provide credible assurance about the absence of undeclared nuclear
material and activities in Iran.” It was because of concerns such as these – and Iran’s longstanding noncompliance with
its IAEA Safeguards Agreement, and thereby the NPT – that Iran’s nuclear program was reported to the UN Security Council
in 2006.
And so, by contrast, Iran’s current policies represent the opposite approach and a fundamentally different model from
how we would want countries in this region and globally to develop nuclear energy.
The intrinsic dual-use nature of certain nuclear fuel cycle technologies underscores the importance of strict
transparency with the international community. As more and more States make the commitment to develop nuclear power,
particular care must be taken to ensure that these programs are not diverted towards malicious ends.
A Serious Commitment
The United States strongly supports the development of safeguarded, well-regulated nuclear power around the world.
Because of its inherent risks, however, we must all work hard to ensure that nuclear power is deployed in the most
responsible manner possible. At a minimum, this will mean a clear commitment to the highest possible standards of
nuclear safety, security, and nonproliferation.
This is a not a unique opinion. For the past 3 years, the IAEA has affirmed this view in General Conference resolutions.
In addition, the past G-8 summit clearly endorsed the importance of nuclear safety, security, and safeguards – the
“3Ss”.
In order to instill confidence in developing nuclear power programs, the United States strongly encourages States to
make tangible and transparent commitments to the highest standards, such as through adherence to a broad range of
treaties and conventions. For example:
As Parties to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, States conclude IAEA safeguards agreements on source and special
fissionable material in all peaceful nuclear activities within their borders. This is a vitally important step that some
countries still need to take.
The implementation of an Additional Protocol allows the IAEA to draw conclusions about the absence of undeclared nuclear
material and activities in the state as a whole. Almost all States party to the NPT with nuclear power programs have
Additional Protocols in force.
The Convention on Nuclear Safety codifies a State’s commitment to the highest regulatory standards and clearly
establishes the sovereign responsibility of the State for the safety of its nuclear power plants.
The Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage – or CSC – will establish a universal liability regime
of protection for both the public and industry. The United States deposited its instrument of ratification for the CSC
to the IAEA this past May, and we are calling on all existing and emerging nuclear power states to do the same.
Adherence to these instruments yields several important benefits. First, it helps a State develop the infrastructure
needed to deploy civilian nuclear power safely and securely.
Second, it provides a clear signal to the international community that a State is prepared to handle this complex
technology.
What’s more, it raises a State’s profile among the many that will be competing for nuclear suppliers. As we’ll learn
over the next two days, the global supply chain may soon struggle to keep up with the expansion of global demand. The
more a State demonstrates a commitment to the responsible pursuit of nuclear power, the more likely it will attract
investors to its nuclear program.
The Case for Cooperation
All nuclear power programs in the world developed through cooperation with others. Developing such a program is a
daunting task, and there is much to be gained from the lessons learned and resources accumulated by states already
further down the road.
An important avenue of cooperation is bilateral engagement. By working one-on-one, advanced states can provide flexible,
dynamic, and expeditious guidance to their partners.
Our commitment to cooperation with countries in the Middle East and North Africa is reflected in our ongoing efforts to
stand up cooperation relationships throughout the region.
In the past year alone the United States has signed nuclear cooperation Memoranda of Understanding with Jordan, Bahrain,
the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. These MOUs signal our shared political commitments to pursue cooperation
consistent with the highest standards.
Allegations by some of discrimination and bias are belied by such commitments, and instead demonstrate a desire to cloud
the issue by those who have been found in noncompliance.
The more well-known cooperation agreement the United States can conclude is the so-called “123 Agreement,” which is
required for significant nuclear exports. We now have 123 Agreements in force covering 48 countries, including Egypt and
Morocco.
In addition to bilateral engagement, we also encourage emerging nuclear energy states to take advantage of multilateral
mechanisms. Certainly, the IAEA is an important resource – through its Technical Cooperation program and its
“Milestones” process.
Another very useful forum is the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership, or GNEP. Today, 25 states – including Jordan,
Morocco, and Oman – have joined as partners in this initiative. GNEP offers a single forum, spanning the full spectrum
of nuclear energy experience, to explore mutually beneficial approaches to the expansion of nuclear energy.
Another promising avenue for multilateral cooperation is the development of new ways to ensure reliable access to
nuclear fuel. About a dozen “fuel assurances” proposals are now under consideration at the IAEA.
These concepts are not mutually exclusive, and a range of approaches could enhance confidence, allow flexibility, and
provide complementary options for countries considering nuclear energy. Diversity of supply offers the strongest
assurance.
Some member states have expressed concern that a mechanism for reliable access to nuclear fuel, operating under IAEA
auspices, could limit their sovereign right to independently pursue nuclear energy options.
However, to benefit from such a mechanism, no state must give up any of its rights. The purpose of this initiative is to
expand, not restrict, access to the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
The mechanisms under consideration are intended to alleviate concerns about access to nuclear fuel from the
international market. As such, they create an incentive for states to choose – voluntarily – the international market
for nuclear fuel rather than develop enrichment and reprocessing capacity.
Great effort is now being made in Vienna to develop a fuel assurance mechanism that is acceptable to all. We strongly
urge all States to play a constructive role in this endeavor.
Conclusion
The demand for clean and reliable sources of electricity has never been so great. The United States believes that
nuclear power will be an important component in meeting the energy challenges of tomorrow.
We must be clear from the start that the use of nuclear technology is complex, and carries with it a number of unique
risks. The importance of a careful and measured approach to nuclear power cannot be overstated.
A clear and transparent dedication to the highest possible standards will demonstrate a firm commitment to the
responsible pursuit of this unique technology.
There is much to gain through civil nuclear cooperation. The United States is actively sharing its experience to help
many others build the necessary capacity to deploy nuclear energy. We look forward to identifying new ways we can work
with cooperating partners.
The future of nuclear power is bright, if it is pursued responsibly.
Thank you.
ENDS