Dar touts nuclear power as sustainable climate tool

FM tells Brussels summit nuclear energy offers viable solution for future

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan urged the international community on Thursday to provide nuclear power reactors, fuel and other associated infrastructure to the developing countries in accordance with safeguard obligations to further develop the use of clean and cost-effective energy.

Addressing the first ever Nuclear Energy Summit, organised by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Belgian government, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar called for continued focus on safety, waste management, and proliferation issues.

Dar recalled that Pakistan endorsed nuclear energy as one of the low-emission technologies in the recent COP-28, adding that nuclear energy offered a viable solution for the future because of its negligible carbon footprints and no Greenhouse emissions.

Dar stressed on three points for further development of nuclear energy -- access to technology, financing nuclear power projects, and increasing IAEA technical cooperation fund. He added that Pakistan was ready to share its experience and expertise in peaceful uses of nuclear technology.

At the same time, Dar said that the world must continue to ensure focus on nuclear safety and security, waste management. “Small modular reactors hold the promise of bringing nuclear power to remote or underserved communities, providing access to clean and affordable energy,” he added.

He told the summit that Pakistan had fully trained human resource capable of supporting nuclear power infrastructure. “Our robust regulatory infrastructure ensures comprehensive safety and security of national nuclear installations and materials across all domains,” he added.

At the summit, leaders from pro-nuclear European countries and energy experts called for a nuclear energy revival, seeking to rebuild the European industry after years of gradual decline. The political push to expand nuclear is part of the drive to meet Europe’s ambitious climate targets.

However, European Union (EU) nations remain divided on whether to promote nuclear energy. One camp led by France believes nuclear expansion is crucial, while the other, including anti-nuclear Austria and Germany want the focus to stay on renewable sources such as wind and solar.

In a joint statement, countries committed “to work to fully unlock the potential of nuclear energy by taking measures such as enabling conditions to support and competitively finance the lifetime extension of existing nuclear reactors”.

The statement also commits to the construction of new nuclear power plants and the early deployment of advanced reactors, including small modular reactors worldwide while maintaining the highest levels of safety and security.