“There are a number of lessons to be drawn from the accident in Fukushima, that apply to the design, construction, operation and maintenance of existing and future nuclear plants, but also apply to waste management or the the backlash against nuclear power,” Mr. Gurría said. “We have an opportunity to learn from this tragic event and take it into account as we go forward.”

Mr Gurría announced the G20 meeting on nuclear energy issues during a joint press conference with Yikiya Amano, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and Luis Echávarri, Director-General of the OECD’s Nuclear Energy Agency. He said the meeting, organised under the French G20 presidency, will contribute to a wider IAEA ministerial meeting that Mr Amano has convened for later in June.

Mr. Amano was in Paris to brief the OECD Council on continuing developments in Japan, as well as for wider discussions on moving forward multilateral cooperation on nuclear safety. Hailing existing OECD-NEA cooperation with IAEA on nuclear safety standards and power plant design, Mr. Amano said international organisations will play a critical role in establishing better nuclear power safeguards in the post-Fukushima world.

IAEA will present an initial assessment of the Fukushima accident and a preliminary review of international response to the crisis during its 20-24 June Ministerial Meeting on Nuclear Safety in Light of the Fukushima Accident. Participants will also renew discussions on nuclear safety, including a review of the International Nuclear Event Scale and other international standards.

“The most important thing now is to stabilise the reactor and put an end to the accident,” Mr Amano said. “It is also time to look into the future, which is why I have proposed this ministerial-level meeting, which is being organised because of Fukushima, but it is not only about this accident. We have to look at all the general nuclear safety questions,” Mr. Amano said.