Mr. Yukiya Amano, Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is scheduled to visit Thailand as a guest of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, between 4-6 October 2011, to meet high-level representatives of Thailand for discussions on the enhancement of cooperations between Thailand and the IAEA, including the use of nuclear technology for development and natural risk assessment.
The IAEA is an international organization established to regulate and promote the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Thailand is one of the founding members of the IAEA since its inception in 1957. The Royal Thai Embassy in Vienna is the contact point between Thailand and IAEA, and the Office of Atom for Peace, Ministry of Science and Technology, is the National Liaison Office for effective coordination amongst concerned Thai agencies.
Thailand currently has vast technical cooperations with IAEA in the application of nuclear technology for national development. These fields include public health (diagnosis and treatment of cancer), agriculture (insect sterilization, and agricultural quality control and productivity), industry (gems irradiation for export), environment (water resource management), and energy. These cooperations involve public and private agencies as well as academic institutions. Over 100 national projects, under which nuclear techniques have been applied for domestic use, have been completed while 6 projects are currently in progress. There are also 128 regional projects, for sharing of information and best practices amongst experts in the region, have been completed, while 38 projects are currently in progress.
This year, the IAEA has given special importance to nuclear techniques for water management and has invited Member States to participate in the Scientific Forum and the Exhibition, entitled “Water Matters: Making a Difference with Nuclear Techniques”, which was held alongside the 55th IAEA General Conference, between 19-23 September 2011, in Vienna. At the Exhibition, Thailand shared our valuable experiences in using nuclear technology for water resource management, including groundwater management in the Upper Chi watershed and Lower Nan River Basin, harnessing groundwater for public and commercial use (bottled water production) and detecting dam leakages.
Given the enormous benefits of using nuclear technology in water resource management, Thailand has initiated a corroborative project with IAEA, using nuclear techniques for the assessment of landslides during the time of flood in Thailand. The nuclear techniques could provide insights to the age and pattern of movement of the mud, which could help to prevent and mitigate the natural risk. The project will commence in early 2012 with a visit of an IAEA expert team to review the existing situation and to transfer relevant technologies to Thailand.
The programme of the IAEA Director-General’s visit includes courtesy calls on Mr. Plodprasop Suraswadi, Minister of Science and Technology, on behalf of the Prime Minister, at Santri Maitri Building, Government House, Mr. Somsak Kiatsuranont, President of the National Assembly and Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Mr. Pichai Naripthaphan, Minister of Energy. The IAEA Director General will also pay a courtesy call on Mr. Pichet Wangtepanukhor, Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, on behalf of the Foreign Minister, Mr. Surapong Tovichakchaikul. The Luncheon in honour of the Director-General of the IAEA will be hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Director-General of the IAEA will also visit the Queen Sirikit Centre for Breast Cancer, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital which nuclear technology is applied for cancer treatment.
For further information, please contact the Press Division, Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tel.02-6435170, Fax.02-6435169, E-mail: div0704@mfa.go.th