NSS aims to form global network of experts to ensure nuclear safety. PHOTO: FILE
The emergence of new players in the global uranium market is raising safety and security concerns for the international community.
This was among the key points speakers made at a seminar titled “nuclear security summit and global uranium industry,” jointly organised by the South Asian Strategic Stability Institute (SASSI) University and the Institute of Strategic Studies Research and Analysis (ISSRA) at the National Defence University (NDU) in Islamabad on Thursday.
The speakers included Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS) Senior Researcher Dr Cindy Vestergaard, SASSI University Director General Dr Maria Sultan and ISSRA DG Maj-Gen Noel Khokhar. Former senate chairman Wasim Sajjad chaired the seminar.
Maj-Gen Khokhar said that the emergence of new players in the global uranium market indicated the intensified usage of uranium at the global level. This increased usage, he said, was also raising safety and security concerns for the international community.
“The rise in global energy demand is calling for a new architecture for global nuclear governance,” he said.
He said that the nuclear security summit (NSS) has been conducted with the aim to form a global network with senior level experts to ensure the nuclear safety and security.
Dr Vestergaard gave an overview of the project of global uranium industry that aimed at focusing the potential of 16 uranium producing and consuming countries, saying the project has been carried out to better understand different safety and security safeguards and industry practices that govern the international uranium production and trade.
Dr Sultan gave an overview of Pakistan’s nuclear activities, explaining the different phases of Pakistan’s nuclear programme to show the journey from peaceful application and front-end capabilities to nuclear maturity and international outreach.
Dr Sultan said Pakistan was signatory to various international conventions on nuclear safety and security.
“How come India has been given access to the global uranium market without accepting any international obligation for nuclear safety,” she said, adding that Pakistan does have the infrastructure and legislation to become a part of the global uranium industry.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 18th, 2014.
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