Media Statement
09 March 2017
SA-led IAEA Board of Governors re-appoints Director General Yukiya Amano
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors, under the leadership of its Chair, Ambassador Tebogo Seokolo, took a decision on Wednesday, 08 March 2017, to re-appoint, by acclamation, Mr Yukiya Amano, for a third term as the Director General of the organisation for the period 1 December 2017 – 30 November 2021. The Board’s decision will be ratified by the IAEA General Conference in September 2017.
Congratulating Mr Amano on his re-appointment as Director General of the IAEA, Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, stated that: “Under the leadership of Mr Amano, the IAEA has in recent decades effectively used nuclear science and technology to support Member States to achieve their developmental objectives. This is particularly evident in the IAEA’s programmes in human health which are assisting countries to, amongst others, establish cancer treatment systems; enhance agricultural production by treating animal diseases which may also be harmful to human beings; treatment of water and environmental management”. The Minister further highlighted the important assistance the IAEA has provided to African countries in tackling the outbreak of Ebola, Rinderpest and malaria.
The current session of the IAEA Board of Governors also welcomed positive progress on the implementation of the nuclear agreement between Iran and the Permanent Members of the UN Security Council (P5+1). The Board noted with satisfaction that Iran continued to show its commitment in implementing the Agreement, and called for all the Parties to keep the positive momentum. The Board also reflected on the nuclear-related developments in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
In addition, the Board received a report on the Nuclear Technology Review 2017 which highlighted emerging global nuclear technology trends and the importance of nuclear power as a viable option to address the energy challenges faced by many countries. The report further noted that many countries are embarking on nuclear programmes for peaceful purposes in order to mitigate against the impact of climate change, advance medical research and its applications. In this regard, the report highlighted that there are currently 30 countries operating nuclear power plants for energy purposes. The report also projected that by 2030 the global nuclear power capacity will have expanded by between 1.9% in the low and 56% in the high case scenario.
Ambassador Seokolo was elected to Chair the Board of Governors of the IAEA for the period October 2016 and will continue until October 2017.
Enquiries: Mr Clayson Monyela, 082 884 5974
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