The International Atomic Energy Agency’s board of governors on 9 March reappointed director-general, Yukiya Amano for a further four-year term of office until November 2021.
The decision took place by acclamation without a vote, but must be formally confirmed by a meeting of all IAEA member states in September.
"The United States is pleased to join the consensus decision of the board in endorsing Yukiya Amano to serve as director-general for the term beginning December 1, 2017,” a US statement said, ending speculation about the US position on the re-election. Amano began his first four-year term on 1 December 2009.
After graduating from Tokyo University’s faculty of law, Amano joined Japan’s foreign ministry in 1972 and began a series of international postings in Belgium, France, Laos, Switzerland and the USA. He has emphasised the importance of building on the IAEA’s action plan for nuclear safety that was adopted after the Fukushima-Daiichi accident. “We will consider ways of further strengthening our work in nuclear, radiation, transport and waste safety,” he said, adding that the IAEA will continue to focus on regulatory effectiveness, safety culture and capacity-building.
