March 28, 2006

1. Purpose
While visiting IAEA Headquarters and making courtesy calls on IAEA Director General Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei and other IAEA executives as a part of business trip to Europe from 18^th March to 25^th March, President Tonozuka introduced JAEA's activities and discussed future collaboration. He participated in the ENC-TopNux 2006 Topical Meeting, which was held in London, to investigate the latest European nuclear landscape, and introduced JAEA's activities at an exhibition, which was held concurrently. On a visit to the BNFL reprocessing plant in Sellafield, he discussed future research collaboration. While visiting the Nuclear Physics Institute and the Nuclear Research Institute in Prague, the Czech Republic, he investigated the current status of nuclear R&D in the Czech Republic and explored future research cooperation possibilities.


2. People and Places Visited
2.1 IAEA Courtesy Visit
1) Courtesy Call on IAEA Director General Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei
President Tonozuka made a courtesy call on IAEA Director General (DG) Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei. From the IAEA, Deputy Director General, Mr. Taniguchi, and Special Assistant to the DG for Policy, Mr. Shaw, also attended the meeting.
President Tonozuka congratulated Dr. ElBaradei again on being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in December 2005, and thanked him for his video message addressing JAEA's inauguration ceremony last October. He described JAEA, which has about 4,400 employees, 700 of whom possess a doctorate degree. With an annual budget of about two billion dollars, JAEA's primary R&D areas are the fast breeder reactor, the nuclear fuel cycle, nuclear waste disposal, nuclear fusion research, quantum beam science, nuclear science, basic nuclear research, and related safety research. He explained a newly established organization; the JAEA Center for Nuclear Non-Proliferation Science and Technology to pursue non-proliferation related R&D and formulate policy suggestions.
President Tonozuka described Japan's peaceful use of nuclear energy, which is characterized in part by its reprocessing process. Specifically, JAEA has been developing a reprocessing technology that does not separate pure plutonium but instead mixes it with a minor actinide. JAEA wishes to continue collaboration with the IAEA in such areas as R&D, the exchange of personnel, etc. The President expressed appreciation that an IAEA representative will present a lecture on behalf of the DG at the First International Non-Proliferation Science Technology Forum this May, though the DG himself will not be able to attend.
Director General ElBaradei welcomed President Tonozuka's visit and stated he was pleased to see JAEA taking an important role in vast areas of nuclear development in response to worldwide needs for nuclear R&D. Dr. ElBaradei said he supports the development of nuclear power and solar energy, both of which are important in the future energy strategy. He declared safety, safeguards, and waste management are three big issues requiring public acceptance. Further, the IAEA has continued cooperation with JAEA, as it did before the integration of JAERI and JNC. He stressed that there is now a worldwide consensus that close collaboration in specialties and personnel is of vital importance, and he wishes to strengthen such collaboration between the two organizations. He said the Deputy Director General, Mr. Heinonen, will attend the forum in May on behalf of the DG, and that he, Dr. ElBaradei, wishes to have another opportunity to visit Japan.
In response to the DG's remarks, the President said that JAEA would make its best efforts to send young and qualified employees to the IAEA.

2) Meeting with the IAEA Deputy Director Generals
Of the six IAEA departments, President Tonozuka met five of the department heads; namely Head of the Department of Technical Cooperation, Ms. Cetto; Head of the Department of Nuclear Safety and Security, Mr. Taniguchi; Head of the Department of Management, Mr. Waller; Head of the Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, Mr. Burkart; and Head of the Department of Safeguards, Mr. Heinonen.
The President described the origination of JAEA and expressed JAEA's readiness to support the IAEA more extensively, since JAEA is the largest nuclear research institute in Japan. He stated his appreciation for having an IAEA representative participate in the First International Non-Proliferation Science Technology Forum in May. He asked to be informed of any IAEA requests in this regard.
In response to the President's remarks, the Deputy Director Generals (DDGs) made the following observations. They said they appreciated the President's visit since it was a rare opportunity for so many DDGs to get together. They requested Japan increase the number of talented personnel sent to the IAEA to expand Japan's presence there. The current number of Japanese full-time employees now assigned to the IAEA is only around 20, and this is considered to be too small. As the IAEA is trying to increase the number of female personnel and to produce friendly working environments for females, they hoped female scientists and experts will acquire working experience with international assignments through various opportunities like internships, and they would like JAEA to offer them favorable working environments so that they will resume work after returning from IAEA. Now that Cadarache was chosen as the ITER site, the ITER project will go into action soon. Although Aomori was not chosen, Japan did obtain many responsibilities and is expected to play a major role in this project. They hope that many talented Japanese personnel will come to Cadarache and contribute significantly.


2.2 CTBTO Visit
The CTBT (Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty) is an international treaty that prohibits experimental explosions of nuclear weapons. Although the treaty itself is not yet in force, the CTBTO has been making preparations as the organization for system development with a view to detect nuclear bomb experiments when the treaty is in force. The President visited the CTBTO operation center and paid a courtesy visit to the Executive Secretary, Mr. Tibor Tóth. The President said that he was impressed to see that the center has monitors all around world, and that he would like to continue to help the CTBTO establish its verification system. The Executive Secretary stated he appreciated JAEA's support and requested JAEA send talented personnel to his organization.


2.3 The ENC TopNux 2006 International Conference
The "Topical Meeting on New Nuclear Reactor Systems (TopNux)" was held from March 21 to 23, 2006 at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Hall in London, the UK. More than 200 persons from about 20 countries participated. They were mainly government representatives and industrial leaders. Fifteen participants were from Japan. Presentations were delivered by participants from the Japan Atomic Power Company (JAPC) and JAEA. President Tonozuka was invited to attend to have the opportunity to exchange views with the conference hosts and representatives of participating countries.
In parallel with the TopNux 2006 meeting, an exhibition by 28 nuclear related organizations was held. From Japan, JAEA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. participated in the exhibition. The JAEA booth exhibition underscored six fields, namely Monju, nuclear fusion, J-PARC, HTTR/hydrogen-production, nuclear safety, and nuclear nonproliferation. It included a DVD video show and brochures. One hundred fifty brochures were distributed by the supporting staff of the International Affaires Department, the Public Relations Department from Japan, and JAEA resident officers in the UK.
Although the President has the general impression that the initialism "J-A-E-A" has not yet become well known, he took the opportunity to attend the conference personally and to meet important personnel from participating countries, thereby widely stressing the existence of JAEA.


2.4 Visit to the BNFL Reprocessing Plant (THORP) and the Technical Center (BTC)
Prior to visiting these facilities, President Tonozuka met with Dr. Sue Ion, BNFL Executive Director, and Mr. Tom Rice, Manager of the Technical Center in Nexia Solutions, an affiliate company of BNFL, to exchange views on the UK's present nuclear landscape and on further collaboration between BNFL and JAEA. The President expressed his willingness to enter into an agreement in the field of cement solidification techniques for nuclear waste to which he would likely send JAEA trainees.
In his visit to facilities in Sellafield, President Tonozuka was particularly interested in the reprocessing plant, THORP, and BTC, the technical center for reprocessing technology development. These facilities present a new, bright, and favorable impression on people, and thus enjoy a positive reputation. The President felt that JAEA should make best use of the agreement in the field of cement solidification techniques for nuclear waste to advance cooperation with BNFL and at the same time to make tangible competitive achievements.


2.5 Visits to the Prague Nuclear Physics Institute and the Nuclear Research Institute
President Tonozuka visited the Nuclear Physics Institute (NPI) and the Nuclear Research Institute (NRI) both located along the Vltava River in Rez, about 40 km north-northwest of Prague in the Czech Republic. The President was welcomed by the Director, Mr. Dobes, from NPI and five other people including the Director General, Mr. Pazdera, from NRI. In his greeting remarks, President Tonozuka expressed his desire to inform them of JAEA's activities and continue the existing mutual collaboration on nuclear fusion.
Director Dobes outlined NPI's activities. NPI was established in 1955. It has about 200 employees, about 80 of whom are scientists. Of its annual budget of approximately 4.5 million euros: the government provides 60%, business profit accounts for 21%, and the public provides 18%. As for expenditures, labor costs account for 56%, and material costs were 44% (in 2003). NPI's mission lies in basic research on nuclear physics and application of nuclear physics approaches to interdisciplinary research.
Director General Pazdera outlined NRI's activities. NRI was established in 1922 and was privatized in 1992; the Czech Power Company possesses 56% of its stock, Slovenské elektrárne has 28%, and Skoda JS a.s. has 17%. NRI has about 900 employees. Its annual budget amounts to 10 million euros: the Czech Power Company provides 42% of its budget, and the government provides 21% of the funding. Additionally, foreign funds contribute 9%, and other Czech companies finance 26% (in 2004). NRI's missions are R&D, design and engineering services, technical engineering, manufacturing of special products and components, as well as expert activities in energy, industry, and radiopharmaceuticals. Director Takeuchi of the International Affairs Department outlined JAEA's activities, and then President Tonozuka emphasized the relationships among the activities of JAEA, NPI, and NRI. In particular, the President then requested they visit J-PARC, which will begin operation in 2008. Afterward, the President toured the Cyclotron accelerator U-120M facility and the research reactor LVR-15 facility, which NPI and NRI own, respectively.


3. Conclusions
During his visit to Vienna, President Tonozuka met most of the key persons there. Above all, his meeting with IAEA Director General Dr. ElBaradei was especially noteworthy. Through the visit, the President understood that JAEA needs to redress the existing perception and to become more strategy-oriented to promote recruitment of experts to international organizations as a long-term investment, while keeping in mind national interests and the future development of the JAEA.
After the ENC Meeting last December, the JAEA exhibition booth at the ENC-TopNux 2006 Topical Meeting allowed members of JAEA to meet many pivotal persons. This provided JAEA members the opportunity to effectively demonstrate JAEA's focused R&D on the fast breeder reactor cycle, and this was viewed as a great success. The President felt that JAEA should advance cooperation with BNFL and at the same time make tangible competitive achievements.
Finally, during his visits to NPI and NRI, the President was impressed with their ability to perform sustained and meaningful studies while overcoming the disadvantages of having relatively small and aged facilities. JAEA should emulate their entrepreneurship.