Page 10 - The Indian EYE 092223

OPINION SEPTEMBER 22, 2023 | The Indian Eye 10

Nuclear Issues and the

G-20 Leaders’ Declaration

The G-20 diplomacy has prevailed over confrontation and disruption.

Efforts of Indian diplomacy have averted the G-20 plunging into a crisis. The declaration

has underlined the principle of adaptation and adjustment

RAJIV NAYAN building a reactor, is being promoted
for its uniqueness. Such reactors could
n 9 September 2023, the G-20 be useful in remote or isolated areas,
summit secretariat issued the on-grid deployment for replacing
O‘G20 New Delhi Leaders’ steam-coal power plants, generating
Declaration’. This is considered a dispatchable electricity, desalinated
big success for the Indian leadership water, hydrogen for fuel, and am-
and the Indian Presidency. This con- monia for shipping. This is also con-
sensus document reflects the under- sidered useful for the countries that
standing of the participating parties need energy but do not have diverse
regarding managing global challenges sources. The companies doing busi-
in the near future. The G-20 was cre- ness in small modular reactors are of-
ated to accommodate rising powers fering services from fuel management
in the global order so that the crises to waste management. It is marketed
in the global financial order could be for its minimal continuous human
tackled effectively with involvement presence. However, the specialists are
of multiple stakeholders. Recent de- divided over the economic feasibility
velopments in Ukraine, though, keep of the Small and Modular Reactor.
threatening the consensus-building The Fukushima incident, envi-
approach of such an organization. ronmental lobbies, regulatory issues,
The G-20 diplomacy has pre- among others are complicating the
vailed over confrontation and dis- matter for this reactor. Moreover,
ruption. Efforts of Indian diplomacy the supply of fuel, safeguards, safety
have averted the G-20 plunging into and security challenges continue to
a crisis. The declaration has under- dog the reactor. A modular reactor
lined the principle of adaptation and may have a high regulatory cost for
adjustment. The right kind of lan- small energy gains. No doubt, the
guage agreed upon among member Prime Minister Narendra Modi with US President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ‘traditional guards, gates, and guns
states on some contentious issues approach’ would ruin the economy
has actually made it possible for the and G20 leaders at Raj Ghat to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi in New Delhi (ANI) of small modular reactors. New ap-
Declaration to be realized. Had there proaches are, therefore, essential.
been no declaration, the exercise to non-traditional security issues mat- partnership based on voluntary and Issues relating to transportation,
resuscitate the global economic and ters like energy security are also dis- mutually accepted conditions. The nuclear security despite lower insider
financial order would have suffered a cussed in the Leaders’ Declaration. partnership may have all the compo- threat, commercial confidentiality,
big setback. The Declaration wants to address nents of ‘research, innovation, devel- cyber threats, funding issues for In-
The declaration contains a pro- worldwide escalating costs associ- opment & deployment of civil nuclear ternational Atomic Energy Agency
jection of not only global challenges ated with commodities such as food technologies including advanced and (IAEA) verification, and so on are
but also their solutions. Prime Min- and energy along with other finan- Small Modular Reactors’. It is to be generally highlighted as the principal
ister Narendra Modi has also prom- cial challenges. To construct a more in alignment with their respective do- challenges for the Small Modular Re-
ised to deliver an action-taken report promising tomorrow, the Declaration mestic laws. The nations are supposed actors. However, forging of an early
soon. The declaration, which is a cul- finds that implementing equitable en- to be responsible nuclear decommis- collaboration of designers, manu-
mination of the exercise conducted ergy transitions has the potential to sioning, radioactive waste and spent facturers, potential operators, gov-
by different tracks and engagement enhance employment opportunities fuel management and mobilizing in- ernments, and IAEA may have the
groups, is designed to address the and people’s well-being, as well as vestments, and share knowledge and chance of making this type of reactors
priority areas of global challenges, bolster economic resilience. best practices, through strengthening attractive for energy security.
essentially in the economic and finan- The declaration has a strong international cooperation to promote The Declaration has strongly
cial areas. emphasis on energy transition plans. nuclear safety globally. condemned any terrorist acts against
A few nuclear issues relating For nations choosing to utilize civil The Small and Modular Reactor, critical infrastructure, including
to traditional military issues and nuclear energy, there is a proposal for in contrast to the traditional method of Continued on next page... >>

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