Nuclear Power Programs Carry Terrorism Risks, International Atomic Energy Agency Chief Says

Growing interest by countries in developing nuclear power programs could lead to increased opportunities for terrorists to obtain radioactive material from reactors, International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Mohamed ElBaradei said yesterday (see GSN, March 18).

“We need to do everything to make sure that we protect all the nuclear material, better protecting radiological sources,” ElBaradei said during a two-day conference in Paris on civilian nuclear power.

Iran’s recent deal to return spent fuel from its Bushehr nuclear reactor to Russia could be a “model” for other nations interested in developing nuclear power, ElBaradei said, according to the Associated Press.

Representatives from the United States, Iran and Pakistan were among those attending the conference, organized by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Nations considering taking up civilian nuclear programs must be aware of the risk of diversion of material by terrorists, officials said.

“The pursuit of civil nuclear power carries with it a great responsibility,” said Connie Morella, U.S. ambassador to the host organization, reading a statement from Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman. “We must ensure that this benefit to humankind is not diverted to activities that increase the risk of nuclear proliferation” (Jamey Keaten, Associated Press, March 21).

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