IAEA Director General Discusses Nuclear Safety, Non-Proliferation and Expanding Collaboration in Switzerland

In meetings with Benoit Revaz, Head of the Swiss Federal Office of Energy and Georg Schwarz, Deputy Director General of the Swiss Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate, Mr Grossi and his hosts discussed the Agency’s work in nuclear decommissioning and nuclear safety and security.  

“The various safety upgrades at the Beznau Nuclear Power Plant reflect the longstanding Swiss safety culture enshrined in the principle of continuous improvement of nuclear safety,” said Mr Grossi at the plant. “We look forward to Switzerland continuing to share this important experience with its international partners.”

Swiss officials emphasized the importance of nuclear safety and security and the contribution of the IAEA in these areas by setting international standards and guidance.  

In 2018, an IAEA International Physical Protection Advisory Service (IPPAS) nuclear security review mission to Switzerland noted that the country’s nuclear security regime is well-established and incorporates the fundamental principles laid out in international agreements. An IAEA Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) mission is scheduled for 2021 to help the country further strengthen and enhance the effectiveness of its regulatory infrastructure for nuclear, radiation, radioactive waste and transport safety.

At the Beznau Power Plant, which has been operational since 1969, Mr Grossi talked about the importance of the long-term operation of nuclear power plants as a cost effective way in the transition to clean energy. And when their lifetime comes to an end, reactors need to be decommissioned safely – as Switzerland is planning to do by 2050.

“In the coming years, we will see considerable decommissioning work on power reactors, research reactors and other types of facility. The Agency will work closely with Switzerland on addressing these challenges and share knowledge on waste/spent fuel management,” Mr Grossi said.

At the Spiez Laboratory, an IAEA Collaborating Centre in the study of radionuclides in the environment, Mr Grossi and Laboratory Director Marc Cadisch reviewed joint initiatives in marine and terrestrial environmental research and discussed potential collaboration in nuclear forensics and in research into zoonotic diseases. Mr Grossi thanked institute staff for offering to analyse samples collected following last month’s blast at the Port of Beirut, collected at a recent IAEA Assistance Mission to Lebanon.