IAEA – ​NUCLEAR PROGRAMS IN DEVELOPING OR UNSTABLE NATIONS
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IAEA
Nuclear Programs in
Developing or Unstable
Nations
“ Atoms for peace”
Introduction:
In March 2002, the world learned that al-Qaeda has seized radioactive
material, such as strontium-90 and cesium-137. Tensions were made worse by the
discovery of documents claiming that the terrorist organization had successfully
built a small “dirty bomb” (also called a radiological weapon), which could cause
long-term airborne contamination. Though no radiological weapons have been
detonated, the concern that the transportation of radioactive materials will allow
militant organizations to build and use a dirty bomb remains valid (Dirty Bombs).
This has led countries across the world to fear nuclear development in
unstable or developing countries. In order to maintain nuclear safety, the United
Nations has placed or helped draft restrictions and sanctions on the nuclear
programs of unstable countries.
Nonetheless, nuclear energy has immense value in less-developed
countries. Nuclear reactors can provide the theoretically clean electricity they
desperately need. With the financial support of developed countries, atomic energy
could expedite their development.
Background & History:
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was created in 1957 in
order to ensure that emerging nuclear energy technologies were used not used for
weapons (Fischer). Since then, it has regularly overseen the development of
nuclear programs in countries around the world. Following the disaster at the
Fukushima nuclear power plant, however, many countries have been wary of
atomic energy, especially in developing or unstable countries.If nuclear disasters
can happen in Japan, then they can happen anywhere.
However, many developing countries see nuclear energy programs as a
way to compete with developed countries. Within the past seven years, more than
50 countries have expressed interest in creating nuclear programs to the IAEA, but
most lack the capital and technology necessary without foreign assistance. Despite
the associated challenges, nine developing countries have constructed nuclear
reactors. While these reactors were meant for the creation of electricity, the
technology and materials used for atomic energy assisted China, North Korea,
India, and Pakistan in developing nuclear weapons. This issue is controversial
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IN DEVELOPING OR UNSTABLE NATIONS – PAGE 2
because the international community does not unanimously trust developing or
unstable countries to use their atomic energy programs for peace.
Countries like Iran and Nigeria provide the best evidence for this sentiment,
where the presence of terrorist organizations means that the risk of terrorist
acquiring radioactive materials is much higher. While radiological weapons, or
“dirty bombs” have never been used outside of tests, many statesare concerned
that terrorist groups may have easier access to the necessary materials if metals
like uranium are traded to poor countries (Dirty Bombs).
Current Situation:
Few developing or unstable countries have nuclear reactors or are actively
constructing them. However, many of them have signed or are discussing nuclear
development deals. These deals are vital to poor countries seeking to embark on
an atomic energy program because of the capital and technology necessary to
safely manage a reactor. Russia and China are engaged in many of these deals,
and countries like Canada and South Korea have provided the technology for
several new nuclear programs. Additionally, most of them must trade for the
reactor fuel from countries like Kazakhstan and Australia.
The IAEA has given consent for developing countries to create nuclear
programs, as long as these countries use the the Integrated Regulatory Review
Service (IRRS) (Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries). The IRRS addresses issues
such as the transport of nuclear fuel, the disposal of waste, and the safety
procedures employed by the country in question.
In the event of refusal to comply with international standards, the United
Nations has employed sanctions to enforce its policies. The nuclear program of
Iran sparked concerns in global politics that it would develop nuclear weapons.
Initially, sanctions were placed on Iran. However, the Iran nuclear deal curbed
Iran’s nuclear programs and revoked those sanctions. Although this deal is not the
focus of this committee, it does provide perspective on the concerns of the IAEA.
To see the complete text of the deal, reference the relevant documents section.
The Problem:
Access to electricity is a necessity for developing countries. However, 1.3
billion people are without it (Lindeman). Despite the limited capital of these
countries, wealthy nations consistently encourage them to invest in costly but
environmentally-friendly power plants. Nuclear energy represents the solution to
these problems. It produces significant amounts of electricity and is, in theory,
clean.
However, even though fuel costs are low, the cost of constructing a nuclear
plant is enormous (The Economic of Nuclear Power); many countries that most
urgently need more electricity cannot afford it without financial assistance. In
addition, these nations lack the technology and educated workforce necessary for
nuclear reactors.
Wealthy countries have historically provided the answers to these problems.
However, there are still concerns about nuclear safety. These are especially
pronounced in countries that are considered unstable by the international
​
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community. This may be as a result of the presence of terrorist organizations or a
government’s inability to maintain control over its population. In either case, there
is the risk of a militant group obtaining nuclear weapons.
In countries plagued by terrorist activity, nuclear reactors may facilitate
radiological terrorism. Even if they could not break into the reactor facility, they
could intercept a transport carrying reactor fuel. While it is unlikely such a group
could acquire a thermonuclear weapon, radiological weapons, or “dirty bombs”, are
relatively simple to construct and could wreak havoc and spread terror wherever
they are used (Dirty Bombs). The resultant radiation could devastate an economy
by forcing a quarantine of a vital economic zone such as a city center.
The risks associated with nuclear programs are much more grave in
countries where regime change could occur suddenly, however. The group that
succeeds the existing government may be militant and uncompromising. In such a
case, that country would have easy access to the materials necessary for
producing a nuclear missile.
This is especially concerning for countries like Israel and the United States,
which have reason to believe they could be targeted by fringe groups in the Middle
East. To ensure that Iran’s nuclear program is used safely and for peace, it has
been restricted by the international community, despite the benefits it could provide
to Iran’s economy.
Relevant Documents:
IAEA Resolution on Nuclear Security:
https://www.iaea.org/About/Policy/GC/GC53/GC53Resolutions/English/gc53res-11
_en.pdf
Iran Nuclear Deal:
http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/full-text-iran-deal-120080
Bloc Positions:
The delegates present at this committee will be organized by the degree of
support they intend to promote in developing or unstable countries and the
restrictions and safety procedures they support. The variety of issues that must be
addressed by this committee means that no two countries will be completely in
agreement.
Delegates are urged to consider that the domestic and popular beliefs of a
country may not reflect their foreign policy. For example, Australia is well known for
its staunchly anti-nuclear policies, yet it is one the world’s most significant
exporters of uranium (World Uranium Mining Production). In addition, a state’s
stance on nuclear weapons may not correlate to their stance on nuclear
development.
Countries such as South Korea, Russia, and Canada are important
providers of nuclear technology. These countries regularly supply the expertise
used by countries to embark upon their nuclear programs. Russia, in particular,
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engaged in several trade deals with developing countries to assist them in
constructing and managing nuclear reactors.
Developing countries that export uranium have easy access to reactor fuel.
In addition, exporters of uranium may desire the opening of new markets for those
resources, which may drive them to support nuclear development in other
countries.
Countries like Germany, that formerly advocated nuclear energy, may take
a much more moderate stance given the disaster at Fukushima. That event has
made nations worldwide cautious of nuclear development.
The states most interested in domestic nuclear development are China,
India, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Kenya, Laos, Iran, India, and Niger
(Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries). They have varying degrees of development,
and some have already met their electricity needs. This committee may choose to
only finance nuclear programs in countries that need it.
In addition, there are concerns about the stability of Nigeria and Iran. Though
Nigeria is desperate for electricity (Lindeman), the presence of Boko Haram may
dissuade the committee from supporting its plans to construct a nuclear power
plant. Members of the Iranian government have publicly stated their intent to use
their nuclear program for war with Israel, which has made many countries
vehemently opposed to it, especially Israel.
Committee Mission:
The first step for this committee is to determine which countries -- if any -should be supported or restricted in terms of nuclear development. The nations
present should consider the needs of developing countries and environmental
issues. The presence of terrorist organizations in the region, the stability of that
government, and the risk that it may use a nuclear program to develop weapons
should be examined carefully by the committee.
A resolution passed by this committee should detail the restrictions and
safety procedures placed on countries they do not support nuclear development in.
Technical information regarding reactor safety protocol is not recommended.
Instead, delegates should look for existing IAEA standards for nuclear safety.
For the countries this committee chooses to support nuclear development
in, an outline of how they should be aided is a necessity. Delegates should
consider the source of the technology, fuel, capital, and oversight they will need.
Most importantly for world safety, an effort should be made to curtail the
dangers posed by nuclear development. The delegates should attempt to minimize
environmental impact and ensure that nuclear material and technology in transit to
a country with a developing nuclear program is not intercepted by a militant
organization.
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Questions to Consider:
1.) Should developing nations, or ones considered unstable, have the means or
access to create nuclear programs?
2.) If nuclear programs should be supported in developing countries, which
countries should provide that support?
3.) What makes a country too unstable for a nuclear program, and what kind of
restrictions should be placed on those countries?
4.) If a country’s nuclear program is restricted, should similar restrictions also
be placed on the transfer of nuclear materials or technology to, in, or from
that country?
Sources for Further Research:
The International Atomic Energy Agency
https://www.iaea.org/
IAEA: Nuclear Power in Developing Countries
https://www.iaea.org/About/Policy/GC/GC50/GC50InfDocuments/English/gc50inf-3
-att3_en.pdf
Union of Concerned Scientists
http://www.ucsusa.org/
World Bank: Electricity Production from Nuclear Sources
http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/EG.ELC.NUCL.ZS
The World Bank’s plan for worldwide electricity access
http://grist.org/climate-energy/world-bank-says-no-to-nuclear-as-it-lays-out-univers
al-energy-plan/
World Nuclear Assocation: Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries
http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/country-profiles/others/emerging-n
uclear-energy-countries.aspx
IAEA – ​NUCLEAR PROGRAMS IN DEVELOPING OR UNSTABLE NATIONS – PAGE 6
Works Cited
“Dirty Bombs." ​Council on Foreign Relations. 19 Oct. 2006. Web. 31 May 2016.
<​http://www.cfr.org/weapons-of-mass-destruction/dirty-bombs/p9548​>
Another cause for concern in developing nuclear programs in unstable
countries, dirty bombs, as demonstrated by this article, could be exploited
by terrorists or militant organizations to spread panic.
"Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries." ​World Nuclear Association. 27 May 2016.
Web. 31 May 2016.
<​http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/country-profiles/others/em
erging-nuclear-energy-countries.aspx​>
Although the domestic nuclear program may not relfect their internation
policies, this source is useful for determining which developing or unstable
states desire nuclear development.
Fischer, David, and The. "IAEA: The First Forty Years." (1997): 1-564. ​IAEA. IAEA.
Web. 5 June 2016.
<​http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1032_web.pdf​>
This is a book that covers the history of the IAEA, and determines why the
IAEA was created, and how it has been influential in the creation of nuclear
programs.
"Iran Says the Nuke Deal Will Help It Target Israel." ​New York Post. 13 Aug. 2015.
Web. 31 May 2016.
<​http://nypost.com/2015/08/13/iran-says-the-nuke-deal-will-help-it-target-isr
ael/​>
The concerns of many countries, especially Israel, are exemplified by
reports such as this, that make it clear some in Iran desire weapons of
mass destruction for war.
Laub, Zachary. "International Sanctions on Iran." ​Council on Foreign Relations. 15
July 2015. Web. 09 June 2016.
<​http://www.cfr.org/iran/international-sanctions-iran/p20258​>
Lindeman, Todd. "1.3 Billion Are Living in the Dark." ​Washington Post. 10 Nov.
2015. Web. 27 May 2016.
<​https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/world/world-without-power/​>.
This article contains statistics about access to electricity categorized by
continent and country. It helps to represent the gravity of the situation and
IAEA – ​NUCLEAR PROGRAMS IN DEVELOPING OR UNSTABLE NATIONS – PAGE 7
the reasons many developing countries would desire reliable and cheap
energy.
“Nuclear Energy in Developing Countries.” American Academy of Arts and
Sciences. Web. 5 June 2016.
<​https://www.amacad.org/content/publications/pubContent.aspx?d=860​>
This is an article that covered the history of nuclear programs in developing
coutnries, and how and why they were started. It also covered issues
concerning nuclear programs, such as the creation of nuclear weapons.
Sanger, David E. "Iran Complies With Nuclear Deal; Sanctions Are Lifted." ​The
New York Times. The New York Times, 16 Jan. 2016. Web. 08 June 2016.
<​http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/17/world/middleeast/iran-sanctions-lifted
-nuclear-deal.html?_r​>
This article covered the most recent state of the Iran Nuclear Deal. It was
helpful to see and understand what the Iran Nuclear Deal currently looks
like
and what state it looks like
"The Economics of Nuclear Power." World Nuclear Association. Mar. 2016. Web.
27 May 2016.
<​http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/economic-aspects/econo
mics-of-nuclear-power.aspx​>
This is a comprehensive analysis of all the economics associated with
nuclear energy. This is also a useful resource for the committee to
determine how cost effective nuclear power will be in developing countries
and the amount of support that wealthy nations must provide.
"World Uranium Mining Production." World Nuclear Association. 19 May 2016.
Web. 3 June 2016.
<​http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/nuclear-fuel-cycle/miningof-uranium/world-uranium-mining-production.aspx​>
This data gathered by World Nuclear Association ranks countries by their
production of uranium. It is a valuable resource in determining a country’s
policy on this issue, because some nations will be interested in opening
new markets for the sale of radioactive materials.