Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Mariano Grossi called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday.
During the meeting, the prime minister reiterated India’s enduring commitment to safe and secure use of atomic energy for peace and development. He shared India’s ambitious goals to enhance the contribution of environmentally friendly nuclear power generation capacity in the country’s energy mix.
Grossi commended India’s impeccable record as a responsible nuclear power. He praised the country’s progress in nuclear science and technology, particularly highlighting the development and deployment of indigenous Nuclear Power Plants.
He acknowledged India’s global leadership role in civil nuclear applications for societal benefits. This includes the remarkable progress that India has made in utilising nuclear technology in addressing challenges faced by humankind, including those related to health, food, water treatment, plastic pollution and climate change.
Views were exchanged on expanding the role of nuclear energy in meeting net zero commitments, including through Small Modular Reactors and Micro-Reactors.
The IAEA director general conveyed his admiration for the outstanding partnership between IAEA and India. He commended India for its training and capacity-building programmes that have helped many countries.
Both sides agreed to explore avenues of cooperation between India and IAEA for extending civil nuclear technology applications in the Global South.