Statement by H.E. Dr. Mohamed Shaker El Markabi, Egypt Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy. Appendix II. Session 1 Statements [International Conference on the Technical Cooperation Programme: Sixty Years and Beyond - Contributing to Development, Vienna (Austria), 30 May - 1 June 2017]

In Egypt's Vision 2030 and in the framework of Integrated and Sustainable Energy Strategy till 2035, diversifying the energy mix is a key priority. The establishment of several nuclear stations to produce electricity, reducing the country's dependence on petroleum, expanding the use of renewable energy, improving energy efficiency, and promoting consumption rationalization are main goals. IAEA assisted Egypt to enhance the national capacity for initiation of Nuclear Power Programme. Egypt, in collaboration with the Agency, has established an Integrated Work Plan under which all TC projects related to nuclear power programme management, site evaluation, safety, human resources development and public communications will be implemented. Due to importance of food and agriculture as the major driver of Egypt's socioeconomic development, IAEA assistance will be directed to support Egypt to increase agricultural productivity and achieve a higher degree of food security using nuclear techniques. In the health sector, IAEA assistance focuses on the use of radiation and isotopes for diagnosis and health care applications, besides upgrading the national facility for radio-pharmaceuticals production to meet the international quality standards. We also appreciate the continuous support of the Agency in the fields of safety, security, safeguards, nuclear materials exploration, emergency response, waste management, irradiation processing, engineering and research reactors.