Rafael Mariano Grossi, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), was in India recently and met with top policymakers. In an interview with TOI’s Surojit Gupta, Grossi discussed the situations in Iran and Ukraine and praised India’s nuclear energy initiatives. Excerpts:
How do you view the nuclear situation in Iran?
We still have a lot of work to do. I have said many times that Iran does not have nuclear weapons at the moment, but they are enriching uranium at almost weapon grade level and that they have not provided clear answers on a number of things to IAEA for quite a long time. We are being fair, but at the same time firm in that we do not want to exaggerate anything, but neither do we want to banalise any situation. Iran has a very important, ambitious, technologically developed nuclear programme and they have to provide the answers. We see that there is a movement around the issue. We have witnessed an important meeting in Beijing recently between Russia, China and Iran. We think it’s positive. We see that there has been an exchange or at least a letter sent by US President Donald Trump to the Supreme Leader. Even with the polemic around the contents and the replies, etc it means that there is a recognition that there has to be an engagement of some sort. So yes, it is a global concern for the reasons I explained. At the same time, this should be an incentive for all of us to work together to avoid an escalation which, against the backdrop of what is happening in the Middle east, would be tragic.
The engagement you talked about… Is there a possibility of that taking place with the top powers to find a solution?
There is a possibility, but this will not be endless or the time will not be limitless. There should be a sense of finality. We want an issuance which is positive, which is diplomatic and non-violent, but at the same time one that provides the international community with assurances. It’s in everybody’s interest. This is what I say when I talk to my Iranian counterparts.
You have made a number of visits to Ukraine. How is the situation there now?
It continues to be fragile. And for as long as combat continues, it will still be the case. Let’s never forget the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is on the front line. It’s very exposed. It has been targeted in the past. There have been many blackouts, situations where the power supply to and from the station was completely interrupted. You remember one of the cooling towers last summer was up in fire. So it is clearly a target. The presence of IAEA there has mitigated the risks, but not eliminated them. We look with expectation, like everybody else, the possibility of a dialogue and negotiation leading to a ceasefire and possibly and hopefully to peace. But until that happens, our concern is that no nuclear accident takes place.
How do you see India’s move to use nuclear energy in the country’s energy transition plan?
I see this very positively. India has top notch technology which it derived initially from western technology. Then you went into your own indigenous development with very good reactors, 20 of them operating flawlessly. But still nuclear is a minute percentage of the national electricity production. And I was happy to see that govt is aiming at going much, much higher – 100 gigawatts, which is possible. I see India as a country that has enormous internal potential, but also, if I may, I see India playing a role globally. Nuclear technology is being exported. And I don’t see why India should not be joining the family of vendors who are active in the global market.
And how do you see the recent announcement of allowing the private sector in the small reactor segment?
That for me is a fundamental piece of the puzzle that shows that govt is adjusting its approach and trying to attune to the realities in the world. Nuclear is capital intensive, and not everything can come from public or public utilities. And when you have the needs that you have in India, you have to explore public-private partnerships or even private ownership of plants, including small modular reactors. I see this change in the legal and policy approach from India as a step, a huge step in the right direction.