Experts warn of severe challenges to peaceful use of nuclear energy

Sep 20, 2007 - Xinhua

Experts warned here on Thursday that the development of the peaceful use of nuclear energy in the world would face severe challenges over the next 25 years.

As the demand for energy and nuclear technology is expected to increase fast in the coming 25 years, the huge capital cost of nuclear infrastructure, the acute shortages of trained human resources and the associated lack of infrastructure would restrain the extension and application of nuclear technology in developing countries, said experts in a report submitted to the 2007 Scientific Forum of the 51st Regular Session of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference.

Moreover, the increasing worry about nuclear safety and proliferation would also challenge the development of nuclear energy in the future, said the report, titled "Global Challenges and the Development of Atomic Energy: The Next 25 Years."

The overall world energy demand would rise probably by around 50 percent or even more in the next 25 years, with two-thirds occurring in the developing countries, according to the report.

The report also called on the IAEA to continuously strengthen the international nuclear safeguard and inspection mechanism, and to play a more important role in promoting the peaceful use of nuclear energy and non-proliferation.

As part of the IAEA General Conference, the two-day forum which ended on Wednesday drew IAEA Director-General Mohamed ElBaradei and many international experts on nuclear application.