The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will host a meeting next week for nations considering nuclear power programmes to learn how to develop and evaluate their nuclear infrastructure requirements. About 100 participants from 50 nations are expected to join the Technical Meeting/Workshop on the Introduction of Nuclear Power Programmes: Management and Evaluation of a National Nuclear Infrastructure from 8-11 February at IAEA headquarters in Vienna.

"I firmly believe that access to nuclear power should not be limited to the developed countries. It should also be available to developing countries. The Agency is well-placed to help. We now have projects on introducing nuclear power with fifty-eight of our Member States, 17 of whom are actively preparing nuclear power programmes," IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano said in December at the Nuclear Power Forum in Manila.

Focusing on developing, implementing, and evaluating the infrastructure needed to establish a nuclear power programme, the meeting will offer participants an opportunity to share experiences, discuss challenges and concerns, and potential means of resolving those issues. The meeting is co-sponsored by Japan and the United States.

All plenary sessions of the meeting are open to the press, and the meeting will be held in the M-Building of the Vienna International Centre (VIC).

Nuclear power is enjoying growing acceptance in many countries as a stable and clean source of energy that can help to mitigate the impact of climate change. More than 60 countries are considering introducing nuclear energy. The IAEA projects that between 10 and 25 new countries are likely to bring their first reactors on-line by 2030. Many of the countries which already have nuclear power are planning or building new reactors or extending the operational life of existing reactors.

Accreditation

All journalists are requested to inform the IAEA Press Office of their plans to attend. Journalists with permanent credentials to the VIC need no additional credentials. Others should contact Ms. Juanita Perez-Vargas for accreditation. Please email J. Perez-Vargas or call [43-1] 2600-21279 / [43-1] 2600-21273.