Morocco is firmly committed to deepening collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in order to strengthen scientific capacities in Africa in the field of fusion energy, said Morocco’s ambassador to Italy, Youssef Balla, on Wednesday in Rome.
“The Kingdom of Morocco reaffirms its commitment to deepening collaboration with the IAEA and international partners to enhance scientific capacities in Africa in the field of fusion and related sciences,” Mr. Balla emphasized at the inaugural ministerial meeting of the Global Fusion Energy Group (WFEG), under the IAEA.
Morocco is also willing to support the Agency’s activities aimed at improving regional cooperation and knowledge exchange, particularly in Africa, he added, specifying that this initiative will enable the Continent to become an integral part of the future of fusion energy.
In this regard, the diplomat noted that the Kingdom is making “notable” progress in education and research in plasma sciences, thus laying the groundwork for future exploration of this energy.
For Morocco, Mr. Balla continued, the peaceful use of fusion energy can advance through increased international efforts and with the active collaboration of member states, particularly through activities organized under the IAEA on fusion energy safety.
In this context, the Kingdom calls, through the Global Fusion Energy Group of the IAEA, for the establishment of qualifying training, particularly for developing countries, with a view to strengthening the foundations and scientific capacities that will ultimately allow for the adoption of large-scale fusion technologies, he said.
Although research dedicated to fusion energy in Africa is still under development, the Continent has expertise in areas related to nuclear and plasma, with qualified professionals in various scientific disciplines, Mr. Balla further added.
While welcoming Italy’s initiative to host this ministerial meeting to “collectively meet the challenge of the emergence of a safe, secure, and decarbonized energy source,” he highlighted the pioneering role of the IAEA in establishing a global framework to enhance collaboration among all stakeholders, with the aim of accelerating and supporting developments in fusion energy, which is intended to shape the future of clean and sustainable energy solutions.
This meeting, chaired by Ms. Giorgia Meloni, President of the Italian Council of Ministers, and Mr. Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the IAEA, is intended to be an opportunity to encourage the efforts of the international community to make commitments within the framework of the Global Fusion Energy Group.