Rafael Grossi: « The future of shipping is the nuclear ships »

« The International Service for Individual Energy is one of the few international organizations involved in so many crises in so many areas of the world. »

The man who makes this finding is its leader, IAEA General Manager Rafael Grossi, who was in our country this week.

In the six years of his term he was called upon to contribute to the management of truly major crises such as nuclear plants in Ukraine.

« Many. We approached 9 times, as we had so many whole blankets in the factory – something very dangerous, as it means that no external energy is taken and so the reactors’ cooling systems are difficult to operate.

And then the reactor can occur.

All you have at the moment is diesel generators, but they are not enough. The situation was particularly dangerous during bombing in the summer of 2022 and the great fire in the cooling system in the summer of 2024. « 

The international organization has a permanent presence in Zaporizia as well as in other nuclear plants in Ukraine.

IAEA has been conducting inspections in Iran for its infamous nuclear program that has been the subject of controversy, agreements and controversy for years.

« The nuclear agreement with Iran has gone through many stages. Today we are at a crossroads. Because Tehran has a very ambitious nuclear program, as it enriches heaven to a very large extent, very close to what produces materials for atomic bomb. They say it’s for peaceful purposes, but we don’t see it.

We are constantly asking: Why did we find the enriched Heaven there? What was going on there? The answers are not credible and this causes irritation to nearby countries that threaten to take the situation into their own hands. Such a move will be an open war between Israel and Iran, it will be catastrophic for the whole region. « 

It is the 64 -year -old Argentine’s first visit to our country as head of the International Atomic Energy Service. « Today in Greece you have no nuclear energy. Maybe it happens in the future.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, with whom I had a meeting, is studying it.

You know, in terms of nuclear factories in Europe, most countries are either increasing or getting ready to acquire.

We have new technologies, especially small articulated reactors that give the choice of a new generation of nuclear power for countries such as Greece, so that large nuclear plants are not needed.

They are particularly useful desalination or data centers, which require large amounts of energy.

However, his visit, such as his meeting with the president of the Hellenic Shipowners’ Union and members of the Board of Directors, had another purpose. « Naturally. There is shipping, in which Greece is a global power.

Your commercial fleet is one of the largest in the world. There is an international move to nuclear boats.

Today’s infects are particularly infected, and shipping agencies have begun an attempt to limit the carbon footprint of this sector.

Many studies have been done and everyone is technically agree, on the papers, that is to say, that nuclear ships will be the safest way in the future. We have begun the Atlas process (Atomic Technologies Licensed for Applications at Sea), where I bring to the same table shipowners, engineers, shipbuilders, port authorities, insurers. It is important to participate in Greece and today I have officially given the invitation to the Association of Shipowners to take part in the process that will begin before the end of the year.

We will discuss approaches and technologies and make decisions. « 

Are there any fears of security? « I remind you that we have nuclear reactors at sea for decades, nuclear submarines have been operating for a long time. After all, we started to look at their transportation on merchant ships as well. « 

Some countries such as Germany or Italy have been removed from nuclear energy.

« It’s an exception to the rule.

In Europe we have 15 countries with nuclear power plants. There are few who do not have it and they are considering it. As for those who want others, such as Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Romania, Turkey. A little further away, in Saudi Arabia are intended to use nuclear reactors for desalination. Let the Greeks not exclude the possibility. « 

« Exactly. It is useful, however, as it currently produces internationally 10% – 12% of energy. In Europe it represents 30% of the energy produced, but it is 50% of clean energy. It is an interesting perspective. Today you cannot impose prohibitions on technology. You can use it or not. « 

Rafael Grossi has expressed the intention of claiming the post of Secretary General. of the UN, as Antonio Guterres’ term is completed in 2026. « This year the UN is turning 80 and was only one Secretary -General from Latin America. But it’s not just that. I believe that in difficult times someone has to lead the organization with experience, something we have in IAEA. The UN must accept the need for a change and a more effective approach to international relations. «