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Global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions are on course to increase by 1.5 billion tonnes in 2021 - the biggest annual rise in emissions since 2010, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). This increase, reversing most of last year's decline caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, is being driven by a strong rebound in demand for coal in electricity generation.

Date: Wednesday, 21 April 2021
Original article: world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Coal-demand-to-boost-CO2-emissions-in-2021-says-IE

The pandemic has shown the resilience of the nuclear industry to act responsibly, both as a supplier of energy and as an employer, the head of the world's biggest uranium producer said today. In his address to delegates at the World Nuclear Fuel Cycle forum, Kazatomprom CEO Galymzhan Pirmatov said the wellbeing of the company's 20,000 employees was his first priority.

Date: Thursday, 15 April 2021
Original article: world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Kazatomprom-put-health-before-profit-during-pandem

Covid-19 pandemic is continuing to affect work at the site, company says The Vogtle-3 construction site in November 2020. Courtesy Georgia Power. Georgia Power is likely to adjust the dates for the start of hot functional testing and fuel load for the Vogtle-3 nuclear power plant under construction in the US, but still expects to achieve the November 2021 and 2022 regulatory-approved in-service dates for Units 3 and 4 respectively.

Since October 2020, the Vogtle site in the state of Georgia has seen a significant increase in Covid-19 cases, Georgia Power said. This increase, combined with “other productivity challenges”, continues to impact construction production and the pace of testing activity completion, it added.

Last year Georgia Power said it expected to begin hot functional testing in January 2021 and fuel loading in April 2021.

Date: Wednesday, 13 January 2021
Original article: nucnet.org/news/georgia-power-likely-to-revise-schedule-for-hot-testing-and-fuel-load-at-unit-3-1-2-2021

The fight against the coronavirus pandemic has underscored the important role the International Atomic Energy Agency plays in the major crises the world faces, its director general, Rafael Mariano Grossi, said today in his opening address to the 64th regular session of the IAEA General Conference. These remarks were in addition to his formal statement published by the agency while he was speaking to the conference's participants, both those present at the IAEA's headquarters in Vienna and those watching via livestreaming of the event.

Date: Tuesday, 22 September 2020
Original article: world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/IAEA-works-to-help-every-global-challenge-says-Gro

An initiative to strengthen global preparedness for future pandemics like COVID-19 has been launched by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The project, called ZODIAC, builds on the IAEA's experience in assisting countries in the use of nuclear and nuclear-derived techniques for the rapid detection of pathogens that cause transboundary animal diseases, including ones that spread to humans.

Date: Wednesday, 17 June 2020
Original article: world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/IAEA-project-to-bolster-preparedness-for-pandemics

Aim is to give states access to nuclear or nuclear-derived techniques IAEA director-general Rafael Mariano Grossi. Image courtesy IAEA/D. Calma. The International Atomic Energy Agency is launching a project to establish a global network of diagnostic laboratories that can conduct monitoring, surveillance, early detection and control of emerging and reemerging zoonotic diseases such as the Covid-19 coronavirus using nuclear or nuclear-derived techniques. 

The agency’s director-general, Rafael Mariano Grossi, told a virtual board of governors meeting on Monday that the Zoonotic Disease Integrated Action (Zodiac) project will give member states access to equipment, technology packages, expertise, guidance and training.

The aim is to make the world better prepared for future outbreaks. Mr Grossi said Covid-19 had exposed problems related to virus detection capabilities in many countries, as well as a need for better communication between health institutions around the world.

Date: Tuesday, 16 June 2020
Original article: nucnet.org/news/iaea-launches-zodiac-project-to-establish-global-laboratory-network-6-1-2020

A nuclear-derived technique is being used to detect virus causing Covid-19 Real time RT-PCR is the most accurate method to detect the Covid-19 virus. Photo courtesy D. Calma/IAEA. The International Atomic Energy Agency said it has so far delivered more than 250 consignments to 80 countries with supplies to help fight against the coronavirus pandemic, with many more to be shipped in the coming days and weeks.

The agency said its assistance includes equipment and expertise to help laboratories around the world step up testing as part of efforts to curb the spread of the disease.

The effort has drawn around €26m in extrabudgetary funds, including support from IAEA member states and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, the Japanese multinational pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical company. Last month Takeda said it would commit around €4.35m in support of the initiative.

The agency has been helping countries through the provision of RT-PCR equipment, as well as accessories for testing and sampling. It is also providing personal protective equipment and offering webinars and video guidance for health and laboratory professionals on sample collection and processing.

Date: Friday, 05 June 2020
Original article: nucnet.org/news/iaea-delivers-supplies-to-80-countries-in-fight-against-pandemic-6-4-2020

Biopharmaceutical leader Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited has committed to donating JPY500 million (around $4.67 million) in support of a global initiative launched by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to help countries combat the Covid-19 pandemic.

Date: Friday, 15 May 2020
Original article: neimagazine.com/news/newsiaea-global-initiative-to-combat-covid-19-attracts-donations-7924200

The COVID-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented demand for personal protective equipment (PPE), part of which must be sterile, i.e. exempt from any microorganism such as bacteria or moulds that can compromise the wearer’s or the patient's safety. It was realised that whilst irradiation is routinely used to sterilise medical products it might also be possible to use the technology to increase the available supply of PPE, writes Paul Wynne, chairman of the International Irradiation Association.

Date: Wednesday, 06 May 2020
Original article: world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Viewpoint-Using-irradiation-to-treat-PPE

Radiation is an effective and established tool to sterilise personal protective equipment that is in high demand during the current pandemic. However, it should not be used for espiratory face masks as it weakens their filters, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said.

Date: Tuesday, 05 May 2020
Original article: neimagazine.com/news/newsiaea-advises-against-radiation-to-sterilise-respiratory-face-masks-7904001