Nuclear Power in the Current Global Context
The rediscovery of nuclear power as a viable energy source is gaining momentum due to its potential to provide low-emission and high-reliability power. This is increasingly important in the face of climate change and energy scarcity.
Threats to Nuclear Facilities
- Recent military actions, such as Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites and activities around Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia plant, highlight the risks to nuclear facilities.
- Historically, facilities like Iraq's Osirak reactor (1981) and Syria's Deir ez-Zor (2007) have been targeted.
- These actions indicate a troubling trend of treating nuclear infrastructure as strategic targets, risking radiological disasters.
International Legal Protections
- Article 56 of the 1977 Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions prohibits attacks on installations with dangerous forces.
- The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) condemns strikes on nuclear facilities as violations of international law.
- Despite legal frameworks, enforcement is fragmented and lacks a binding international convention.
Case Study: Israel and Iran
- Israel justifies its actions as preventive self-defense against Iran's undeclared nuclear activities.
- Iran, a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), claims its nuclear program is peaceful and under IAEA safeguards.
- This situation highlights the tension between non-proliferation enforcement and upholding international safeguards.
Global Implications
- Nuclear energy is crucial for economic development and climate action, with over 30 countries operating civilian reactors.
- Increased attacks on nuclear sites could undermine global non-proliferation regimes and energy security.
India's Nuclear Energy Strategy
- India aims to expand its nuclear capacity to 100 GW by 2047, with current capacity at 8 GW.
- Plans to amend the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 are underway to boost private investment.
- India and Pakistan maintain a rare nuclear restraint through a bilateral agreement that prohibits attacks on each other's nuclear sites.
Need for Binding International Norms
- Current legal instruments are insufficient; a binding international convention is necessary to ban attacks on civilian nuclear facilities.
- Such a convention would enhance global energy security and protect the nuclear framework.
The demand for nuclear power is growing, driven by climate change, digital expansion, and geopolitical volatility. It is crucial to uphold the principle that nuclear infrastructure should not be targeted to prevent regional conflicts from escalating into global crises.