The IAEA's five-day General Conference opened on 16 September 2013 to consider the Agency's programme and activities and approve its budget for the coming year. High-level governmental representatives from the IAEA's 159 Member States, including several at the ministerial level, are gathered to consider and discuss a range of topics on the peaceful development of nuclear technologies. During the Conference, the around 3000 participants from Member States, international organizations, as well as non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the media will have the choice to attend dozens of side events. More → | Photo Gallery →

In his address to the delegates of the 57th IAEA General Conference, Director General Yukiya Amano summarized the Agency's activities in nuclear power, nuclear safety and security, nuclear applications, technical cooperation and non-proliferation. He stressed that by making nuclear technology available, the IAEA makes a unique and lasting contribution to achieving the Millenium Development Goals. More → | Full Statement → | Photo Gallery →

The 57th annual session of the General Conference approved by acclamation the reappointment of Director General Yukiya Amano for a further term of four years. Director General Amano has held the top position at the IAEA since 2009. He is the IAEA's fifth Director General in its 57 year history. More → | Full Statement → | Oath of Office →

The General Conference elected Ambassador Xolisa Mfundiso Mabhongo of South Africa as President of the 57th IAEA General Conference. Ambassador Mabhongo is South Africa's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the International Organizations in Vienna. Curriculum Vitae → | Statement →

At the opening of the 57th IAEA General Conference, a message from the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, was delivered on his behalf by Yury Fedotov, Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. Full Statement →

At this morning's opening session, the General Conference approved the applications of the Brunei Darussalam and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas for membership in the IAEA. Membership will take effect once the appropriate legal instruments are deposited with the Agency.

On 16 September 2013, Cuba [view photo] and Malta [view photo] deposited their respective instruments of ratification of the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) to Director General Yukiya Amano, during a Treaty Event held on the periphery of the 57th IAEA General Conference. On the same day, Malta additionally deposited its instrument of accession to the IAEA's Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management. CPPNM: Cuba and Malta → | Joint Convention: Malta →

During the afternoon of 16 September, the International Nuclear Safety Group (INSAG) held a forum on the importance of peer reviews at nuclear power facilities as well as lessons learned from the Fukushima-Daiichi accident. For many years now, this annual INSAG forum has been a regular, anticipated event conducted as a side event of the IAEA General Conference. More →

Janice Dunn Lee, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Management, moderated a discussion forum on ensuring sustainable workforce development. The keynote presenter, Valerie Segovia [view photo], the Director of Outreach and Development of the Nuclear Power Institute at Texas A&M University, explained how the Nuclear Power Institute had encouraged young people, particularly young women, to pursue careers in the sciences. As a result, the Nuclear Power Institute's programme has been able to increase interest among the students it mentors well above the national average. The discussion considered how this programme could be applied globally to help ensure a well-qualified nuclear work force in the future. More →

In a roundtable briefing presided by Serge Gas, Director of the Division of Public Information, and Ayhan Evrensel, Communications Advisor to the Department of Nuclear Energy, representatives from various intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations made presentations on the future challenges and possibilities of nuclear energy and civil society.

The IAEA's Scientific Forum on The Blue Planet - Nuclear Applications for a Sustainable Marine Environment opened today in Vienna, Austria. The two-day Forum focuses on protecting and preserving the ecological balance that is vital for the survival of the coastal regions and marine environment. Nuclear and isotopic techniques make an important contribution to improving our understanding of the challenges that threaten the health of our oceans. The Forum showcases the IAEA's work with Member States and international partners in monitoring and evaluating the challenges facing our oceans, and in seeking solutions. More → | Scientific Forum → | Photo Gallery →

At its second plenary session yesterday, the IAEA General Conference adopted its Agenda, allocating items for discussion among Conference bodies. Agenda →

On Tuesday, 17 September 2013, the IAEA hosted a forum on Radon in the Home. A panel of experts convened to discuss the health risks associated with Radon, developing action plans to detect and control concentration levels, as well as the role of the IAEA in the process. Public and stakeholder education programs and governmental cooperation were highlighted as key components in promoting efficient, cost-effective plans to improve the safety of Member States communities. More →

Also on 17 September 2013, a round table discussion on "Women in All Things Nuclear" was held during the 57th IAEA General Conference. Janice Dunn Lee, IAEA Deputy Director General, and Head of the Department of Management, as well as IAEA Permanent Representatives from Japan, Lesotho, South Africa, United Kingdom and other experts in the field of nuclear science discussed the roles and opportunities for women in this field, also addressing issues pertaining to nuclear law, regulation, technology, policy, diplomacy and management. More →

The IAEA and the Forum of Nuclear Regulatory Bodies in Africa (FNRBA) signed practical arrangements to reflect the increased cooperation between the two organizations. The objective of these Practical Arrangements is to define a framework for cooperation between the IAEA and FNRBA in strengthening the nuclear safety and security in IAEA Member States, which are also member countries of the FNRBA. Denis Flory, IAEA Deputy Director General for Nuclear Safety, and Augustin Simo, FNRBA Chairperson, concluded the agreement on 17 September 2013 during the 57th IAEA General Conference. More →

On 17 September 2013, the IAEA and the European Commission signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Nuclear Safety, establishing a framework for cooperation to help improve nuclear safety in Europe. The Memorandum was signed by IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano and the European Commissioner for Energy, Günther Oettinger. More →

At the briefing on the IAEA Nuclear Safety Action Plan, Special Coordinator Gustavo Caruso presented an update on progress in the implementation of the IAEA Action Plan on Nuclear Safety and the comprehensive report on the Fukushima Daiichi accident.

Reflecting the IAEA's commitment to higher education, a ceremony was held 17 September to formalize a Practical Arrangement between the IAEA and the University Institute of Advanced Studies (IUSS) of Pavia. The arrangement establishes education networks which will encourage the development of a competent nuclear workforce. Alexander Bychkov, Deputy Director General of the Department of Nuclear Energy, and Roberto Schmid, former director of the Pavia Institute, signed the Practical Arrangement. More →

On 17 September 2013, the Union Minister for Foreign Affairs of Myanmar, U Wunna Maung Lwin, and IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano signed an Additional Protocol to Myanmar's safeguards agreement at the IAEA Headquarters in Vienna, Austria. More →

On 17 September 2013, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations of the Kingdom of Lesotho, Mohlabi Kenneth Tsekoa, deposited an instrument of accession to the Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident and an instrument of accession to the Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency with the IAEA Legal Adviser, Peri Lynn Johnson. More →

The Ibero-American Forum of Radiological and Nuclear Regulatory Agencies (FORO) held its informative event and a plenary meeting along the side lines of 57th General Conference from 16 and 17 September 2013. Ambassadors and senior regulators from around 20 Member States of the Ibero American region, including representatives of the eight FORO countries members (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Mexico, Peru, Spain and Uruguay) attended the informative event. Denis Flory, IAEA Deputy Director General, Head of the Department of Nuclear Safety and Security, opened and closed the event, with Juan Eibenschutz, current FORO president and Director General of the Comisión Nacional de Seguridad Nuclear y Salvaguardias (CNSNS) of Mexico acting as Chairman. Flory emphasized the importance of FORO and IAEA partnership. This mutual cooperation has resulted in joint technical documents, in networking and in the exchange of information between the Agency and the FORO. Since in all FOR's activities, the scientific reference is the IAEA and its Safety Standards, its proactive approach is significantly contributing to increased outreach of the IAEA Statutory function in the region.

At Ethiopia's exhibit at the IAEA 57th General Conference, delegates and IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano (Photo: centre, wearing white project hat) celebrated Ethiopia's progress in using a nuclear technique, Sterile Insect Technique (SIT), to eradicate the tsetse fly and the diseases it transmits, called trypanosomosis, from the 25 000 km2 swathe of the Southern Rift Valley. More →

The IAEA Incident and Emergency Centre (IEC) briefed delegations on Tuesday, 17 September 2013, on the measures the IAEA will employ to assess and predict developments during a nuclear power plant accident, and how this technical information can be relayed in an understandable manner for non-experts. More →

"In dealing with threats to the health of the seas, governments need accurate data. For that, they need skilled researchers who can devise accurate models to help predict future conditions. That way, governments can start implementing the appropriate strategies to protect the seas and oceans," Director General Amano told participants at the opening session of this year's Scientific Forum on The Blue Planet - Nuclear Applications for a Sustainable Marine Environment . The Forum continues with its second session today with focus on radioactive and non-radioactive pollution of coastal and marine ecosystems. More → | Scientific Forum → | Photo Gallery →

Seeking to improve their management of water resources, four northeast African nations today agreed to establish a long-term framework for utlizing a key underground water system. Chad, Egypt, Libya and Sudan signed a Strategic Action Programme (SAP) that aims to optimize the equitable use of the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System, a huge water resource that lies beneath the four nations. The SAP also commits the countries to strengthen and build upon a previously existing regional coordination mechanism, in part by establishing a new Joint Authority for the Nubian Aquifer System. More → | Video → | Photo Gallery →

Ministerial-level officials from the Iraqi government, along with high-level officials and scientists from participating Member States, today reviewed eight years of challenges and lessons learned from decommissioning damaged and contaminated nuclear facilities in Iraq. The venue was a side event on the Iraq Decommissioning Project jointly hosted by Iraq and the IAEA on 18 September as part of the IAEA General Conference. The event also highlighted the continuing need for international support for this project. More →

When wastewater is treated with chemicals, those chemicals often follow the treated water into natural reservoirs. At a General Conference side event on 18 September, participants explored novel approaches to waste water management like e-beams, which break down waste without leaving harmful pollutants in the water. The event also raised awareness of available technology, and possibilities for partnerships. More →

To celebrate 50 years of cooperation with the Agency, the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) has organized a country booth at the 57th annual IAEA General Conference. The exhibit displays posters describing successful technical cooperation projects and showcases actual examples of project outcomes, such as irradiated food. More → | Video →

On 18 September 2013, the IAEA Department of Nuclear Energy held an event on the current status of radioactive waste disposal programmes worldwide. The side event during the IAEA 57th General Conference emphasized that safe and accepted solutions can be and are implemented for the disposal of radioactive waste and provided information on positive developments in radioactive waste disposal programmes that are being implemented by Member States. Presentations were delivered by representatives of South Africa, Spain and the United States on their facilities for the disposal of low-level and intermediate-level waste, and Sweden, Finland and France on the progress in implementation of high-level waste and spent fuel disposal. More →

This side event, co-sponsored by the European Nuclear Education Network Association, showcased the role of networks and research reactors to support high quality nuclear education. It included the introduction of the recently launched e-learning modules for new nuclear power programmes, a demonstration of the Internet Reactor Laboratory and signing of a common action plan for educational networks from Asia, Latin America, Africa and Europe. A wide range of presenters emphasized the importance of networks for collaboration in nuclear education and training during the side event which was held on the 18th of September.

On 18 September 2013, the IAEA Department of Nuclear Energy held an event which highlighted five years of experience with Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) missions. Representatives from Belarus, Poland, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Vietnam as embarking countries, and South Africa, as a country that is already generating nuclear power, shared their views on how they used the results of this peer review service in developing national nuclear infrastructure. More →

Soon there will be one system for the evaluation and reporting of uranium resources. Or at least that's the plan. This year at the IAEA's 57th Annual General Conference in Vienna, Austria, the United Nations unveiled a new system for classifying, estimating and reporting how much uranium is available within a particular location. This system also applies to the evaluation of oil, gas, coal and thorium reserves. But trying to get the many uranium-producing countries around the world to adopt this new system could be an uphill battle. More →

Disused sealed radioactive sources present risks if not properly handled. The IAEA's Department of Technical Cooperation briefed delegates on Strengthening Cradle-to-Grave Control of Radioactive Sources in the Mediterranean Region to widen awareness of the critical need to safely and securely disposal of these sources. Radioactive sources are used for beneficial purposes in industry, medicine, agriculture, research and education. Once radioactive sources have reached the end of their useful life, their disposal must be carefully managed so that they cannot present an environmental hazard or a danger to people. More →

The fourth day of the General Conference opened with further national statements delivered in the Plenary session. During the day a number of side events have been scheduled, ranging from the modernization of the laboratories of the IAEA Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications in Seibersdorf, the Agency's role in cancer control, sustainable development, nuclear energy, safety and peaceful nuclear applications. Statements → | Photo Gallery →

Pandora's Promise is a film that tells the personal stories of environmentalists and energy experts who have undergone a conversion from being against nuclear energy to becoming strongly pro-nuclear energy. After being shown on the 26th of June during the IAEA's fourth International Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Power in the 21st Century, in St. Petersburg, and having received very positive feedback from Member States, the IAEA Department of Nuclear Energy has made the arrangements to show the film to a wider audience today in the General Conference. After the screening there will be a questions and answers session with the Academy Award nominated director Robert Stone. View trailer →

Eleven countries have been newly elected to serve on the 35-member IAEA Board of Governors for the period 2013-2014. The election took place today, Thursday, at the plenary session of the IAEA General Conference which continues throughout the week in Vienna. The newly elected Board members are Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Finland, Kenya, Peru, Qatar, Slovakia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela, and Viet Nam.

For the 2013-14 period, the new composition of the 35-member IAEA Board is: Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Japan, Kenya, Libya, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Poland, Qatar, Russian Federation, Slovakia, South Africa, Sudan, Sweden, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Viet Nam. The Board meets Monday, 23 September, to elect its officers.

In a world facing complex challenges such as climate change, dwindling fresh water reserves, cancer, and threats to food security, nuclear applications often play a role in delivering cost-effective, swift and accessible solutions for developing and developed countries. At the 57th IAEA General Conference, IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano was joined by Ben Martins, Minister of Energy of South Africa, Daud Mohamad, Deputy Director General of the IAEA Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications and Kwaku Aning, Deputy Director General of the IAEA Department of Technical Cooperation, as well as scientific experts to highlight how to the IAEA's Nuclear Sciences and Applications Laboratories in Seibersdorf, Austria have helped support Member States technological and socioeconomic development for over fifty years. The Director General noted that the Member States' needs are growing, while the Laboratories infrastructure is aging and their capacities are increasingly constrained. The briefing discussed the renovation project called ReNuAL (Renovation of Nuclear Sciences and Applications Laboratories in Seibersdorf) that will make the Laboratories "fit-for-purpose" facilities that address the Member States' growing needs for years to come.

The IAEA Program of Action for Cancer Therapy (PACT) hosted a Forum on Thursday, 19 September 2013 to discuss its role in cancer control. A panel of experts provided cases studies that demonstrated the power of global partnerships in cancer control, the positive contribution of joint efforts in providing technical assistance to Member States and the Virtual University in Cancer Control launched as a regional project in Africa to expand the pool of qualified cancer care specialists. More →

Alexander Bychkov, Deputy Director General of the Department of Nuclear Energy, presented European Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering certificates to 13 laureates, on 19 September 2013. During the award ceremony two laureates, as well as senior IAEA staff, spoke, highlighting the importance of encouraging and mentoring young people in the nuclear field.

The annual Senior Regulators’ Meeting was held today, bringing together experts in the nuclear radiation and transportation fields. The Meeting provided the opportunity for senior government officials to exchange valuable information on current regulatory issues, trends and innovations. Together, the panel and the professionals in attendance explored three distinct topics: the IRRS Programme, cyber security and resource management.

The 57th annual session of the IAEA General Conference concluded today in Vienna. More than 3 000 delegates from 159 IAEA Member States, international organizations, non-governmental organizations and the media attended the event held at the Austria Center, Vienna from 16-20 September 2013. The full texts of adopted resolutions will be posted in due course on the IAEA website. More → | Director General Statement to Conference→ | Photo Gallery →

The Regulatory Cooperation Forum (RCF) of the IAEA held a side event to the 57th General Conference on Friday, 20 September. IAEA officials presented an information session concerning past and present RCF activities to current and potential members. The meeting also convened a panel of seven international experts for a round table discussion on nuclear regulatory cooperation between the RCF and Member States. More →

The IAEA 57th General Conference convenes for the fifth and final day today. Member State exhibitions and scheduled side events will continue, while delegates meet in the Committee of the Whole and the Plenary to discuss remaining agenda items. To catch up with stories and developments you may have missed, please refer to the Articles section of this page. Delegates' statements can be found in the Statements section of this page. More → | Photo Gallery →