[Title] Report of the Nuclear Safety and Security Group, G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit

The Nuclear Safety and Security Group (NSSG), established at the Kananaskis Summit and responsible to Leaders, provides technically informed strategic policy advice on issues that could impact safety and security in the peaceful use of nuclear energy. We are committed to continue to consider nuclear safety and security issues.

We welcome continued cooperation with relevant international organizations in this area, and will promote strong and competent national nuclear safety and security infrastructure, by addressing both existing and emerging challenges and establishing partnership relations on these issues.

Importance of International Nuclear Safety and Security Instruments

We will continue to promote international instruments on nuclear safety and security, including the Convention on Nuclear Safety and the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management. In this connection, we welcome the entry-into-force of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism last year. We encourage broad commitment to and implementation of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources as well as the IAEA Guidance on the Import and Export of Radioactive Sources. We will further continue to promote IAEA nuclear safety standards and security guidelines. We call upon all States to join, as appropriate, and implement the respective international instruments and guidance.

Chernobyl Commitments

We welcome the progress made since the last Summit meeting in the development of the ongoing projects at the Chernobyl site, and reaffirm our commitments under former G7 / G8 summit declarations and memoranda of understanding and through the as adopted on 29 May 2008 Nuclear Safety Account (NSA) and Chernobyl Shelter Fund (CSF) - to undertake joint efforts with Ukraine to convert the damaged reactor unit site into safe conditions and to make available safe and reliable facilities at Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) site necessary for a safe decommissioning of the shut down reactor units. In this connection, we welcome the decision of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) shareholders to donate 135 million euro for the New Safe Confinement financed through the CSF and a new interim Spent Fuel Storage facility financed by the NSA. Recognizing the urgent need for additional financial contributions to the NSA and reconfirming G8 solidarity, we have decided to organize jointly a pledging event for the NSA in 2008 to fill its funding shortfall, and invite other donors to join us. We call upon the Government of Ukraine to contribute to the funding and to collaborate with the EBRD, to take all necessary measures to assist in timely and efficient implementation of the programs and projects concerned within the agreed frameworks. According to the available information, additional financial contributions will be needed for the CSF in 2009.

Nuclear Safety of Armenia NPP

Noting international cooperation extended for Armenia NPP, recent progress made and remaining safety issues, we will continue to encourage Armenia to undertake further upgrades necessary to ensure that Armenia NPP can operate in a safe manner until it can be shut down and decommissioned.

Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism

We will continue to support the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism. We welcome the fact that to date over 70 countries have committed to the principles of the initiative and that the European Union and IAEA have participated as observers, and encourage all other States to join this endeavour.

Global Nuclear Safety Network

We will continue to support efforts to improve networks for information exchange and cooperation in nuclear safety matters. We welcome the progress to enhance the Global Nuclear Safety Network (GNSN), which is based on considerable work of international organizations, particularly the IAEA in cooperation with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development /Nuclear Energy Agency (OECD/NEA). Continuing efforts to improve the GNSN are expected to substantially contribute to maintaining competence, improving operational experience feedback and sharing best practices. We encourage the international organizations and the countries concerned to continue these efforts.

G8 Initiative on Nuclear Energy Infrastructure

Noting that a growing number of countries worldwide have expressed interest in and have considered embarking upon nuclear power generation, we recognize the need to establish common understanding that implementation of non-proliferation/safeguards, safety and security (3Ss) is indispensable for the use of nuclear energy. Against this background, a new G8 Initiative on Nuclear Energy Infrastructure, aimed at raising awareness of the importance of 3Ss worldwide and assisting the countries concerned in developing 3Ss has been discussed in the NSSG and has found broad support.

Earthquake and Nuclear Safety

The earthquake that affected the Kashiwazaki Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant in Japan in July 2007 reconfirms the importance of an international response to earthquakes in proportion to their risks to other nuclear plants worldwide. We encourage IAEAs efforts in this field, such as production of seismic safety standards. We decide to exchange our views and expertise on how to address seismic issues for nuclear power plants, thereby reconfirming the importance of seismic measures in nuclear safety.

Human Resources Development on Nuclear Safety and Security

We reconfirm the importance of government role in ensuring qualified human resources in the field of nuclear safety and security. We welcome the work undertaken by the OECD/NEA to highlight this concern and will continue to pay close attention to this issue.