Opening Speech by the Minister of Energy and Renewable Energies

On the occasion of the opening of the joint seminar between the Atomic Energy Commission and the State Atomic Energy Corporation

on non-electrical applications of nuclear energy

Algiers, 28–29 October 2025

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, and peace and blessings be upon ; on his ; most virtuous of messengers,

Mr. Minister of Health,

Mr. President of the National Agency for Health Security,

Mr. President of the National Committee for the Prevention and Control of Cancer,

Mr. President of the National Authority for Nuclear Safety and Security,

Mr. Commissioner of Atomic Energy,

Ladies and Gentlemen experts and members of the delegation of the Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation, Rosatom,

Ladies and Gentlemen experts and representatives of the various national institutions participating in this seminar,

Ladies and Gentlemen senior officials of the Ministry of Energy and Renewable Energies,

Distinguished guests,

Members of the media,

Peace, Allah’s mercy and blessings be upon you,

It gives me great pleasure to preside with you today over the official opening of this seminar on the non-electrical applications of nuclear energy, organized in partnership between the Atomic Energy Commission and the State Atomic Energy Corporation of the Russian Federation. I would like, first and foremost, to welcome you all and extend my warm greetings to our distinguished guests.

I would also like to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to the organizers who worked diligently to prepare this seminar, which forms part of the dynamic implementation of cooperation between the Atomic Energy Commission and Rosatom, with the aim of strengthening bilateral relations between our two countries in the field of the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

On this occasion, I wish to commend the quality of the strong and historic bilateral relations linking Algeria and the Russian Federation. These relations are framed by the Strategic Cooperation Agreement signed in 2001, which constitutes their fundamental foundation, and which led to the conclusion of a cooperation agreement between the two governments to structure and develop cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy, as well as memoranda of understanding between the Atomic Energy Commission and Rosatom.

Numerous activities have been carried out within the framework of this partnership between the Atomic Energy Commission and Rosatom, enabling the establishment of high-level exchanges on various topics of common interest in the peaceful use of nuclear energy, particularly with regard to benefiting from Russian expertise and training.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

This seminar is being held at a time when the Algerian Government is placing great importance on combating cancer and on the use of nuclear medicine in this field, in implementation of the instructions of the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, to direct investments in nuclear energy toward medical uses, in particular radiotherapy for patients suffering from cancer or other diseases requiring this technology.

In addition to nuclear medicine and radiotherapy, it is important to recall the wide range of nuclear energy applications in the fields of energy, agriculture, industry, and water resources, including seawater desalination and drought control.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

There is growing global awareness that ensuring access to reliable, sustainable, and modern energy services—consistent with Sustainable Development Goal 7—is essential to achieving all or most of the Sustainable Development Goals. These goals aim to eradicate poverty in all its forms, combat inequality, address climate change, and protect the environment, through strategies that stimulate economic growth while meeting social needs, particularly in education, health, social protection, and employment.

In this context, and in light of the significant progress achieved in nuclear safety and security, as well as advances in related technologies, the peaceful use of nuclear energy can play an important role in achieving these objectives, whether as a source of clean energy production or through its various applications in other sectors.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Algeria is working to harness nuclear energy for the development of local production of radiopharmaceuticals in order to meet the growing national demand for these materials, secure the supply chain, and ensure their continuous availability for medical use. This approach contributes to reducing imports of radiopharmaceuticals, improving patient care, and shortening waiting times for treatment.

This seminar represents an important opportunity to exchange expertise and benefit from the extensive and valuable experience of our Russian partner, Rosatom, in the field of nuclear medicine and radioisotope production, with a view to strengthening training capacities and technology transfer in this area. It also allows for the exchange of expertise in other fields, such as the development of small modular reactors (SMRs) and their use in electricity generation and seawater desalination.

I would like to reaffirm our firm conviction that maximizing the benefits of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and its technologies—offering effective solutions to challenges in vital fields such as medicine, energy, agriculture, and water resources in the coming decades—requires closer cooperation with our partners, in order to achieve tangible results through balanced and mutually beneficial partnerships.

In conclusion, I hereby officially declare the opening of the proceedings of this seminar on the non-electrical applications of nuclear energy. I wish its work every success and hope it will result in concrete recommendations that further strengthen bilateral cooperation in this field.

Thank you for your kind attention.

Minister of Energy and Renewable Energies

Dr. Mourad Adjal