The flags of three countries, Brazil, Jordan and Morocco, were ceremonially added to the “donor wall” of the IAEA Nuclear Applications Laboratories today, highlighting their recent first-time financial contributions to the renovation of the laboratories. The wall honours the political commitment of 34 Member States and individuals that have contributed to the advancement of the Renovation of the Nuclear Applications Laboratories (ReNuAL) project.
While great strides have been made to mobilize resources for the project, additional funding is needed for outfitting the new laboratories and ensuring their full functionality, said Mary-Alice Hayward, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Management, speaking on behalf of Director General Yukiya Amano.
“To make the new labs fully operational as soon as possible, we urgently need an additional €3.75 million to equip and set up the new facilities,” Ms Hayward said. “When fully operational, the new facilities will enable us to deliver new and improved services to our 170 Member States in areas including food and agriculture, human health, soil and water management and environmental protection.”
New contributions will be recognized along with pledges from any new or repeating ReNuAL donors at a side event of November’s Ministerial Conference.
Potential private sector donors interested in providing equipment to the laboratories will have another opportunity to explore partnerships with the IAEA via the United Nations Global Marketplace (UNGM) portal when an updated list of needed equipment is posted in October.
In the meantime, staff have begun the process of transitioning into the Insect Pest Control Laboratory, where tests have begun to ensure that insect colonies have adapted successfully to their new environment, said Aldo Malavasi, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Applications. “The FML will be inaugurated during the upcoming Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Science and Technology on 28 November,” he added.
The laboratories have made a major contribution to the development of many countries, including in Africa, said Thembi Majola, South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Energy. South Africa’s Ambassador to the IAEA, Tebogo Seokolo, serves as the other co-chair of Friends of ReNuAL. “It’s not a project that’s just nice to have, but a necessity that changes people’s lives,” Ms Majola said.
€1 million for higher energy efficiency
In a related development, the United States, announced a pledge of €1 million during Secretary of Energy Rick Perry’s remarks at the GC plenary session towards increasing the energy efficiency of the new facilities in Seibersdorf. This is over and above their previous contribution to the ReNuAL and ReNuAL+ project.
