Harare — Most people have unpleasant memories each time atomic or nuclear energy is mentioned.

Many associate it with destructive warfare, disasters in the technology and disposal, while it is undoubtedly an expensive option to pursue.

Some say it might require all our salaries to be gobbled up to set up the requisite infrastructure and considerably much is needed to rid the waste.

But it is an option with potential benefits in many sectors of human life.

Perhaps most importantly, analysts say it is the energy for the future for its sensitivity to the fight against the global climate change catastrophe.

The Government recently invited the International Atomic Energy Agency to review and advise on measures to strengthen the regulatory framework for safety and security of radiation.

Zimbabwe, which has considerable deposits of uranium, is also a party to the United Nations Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which discourages use and spread of nuclear material and technologies for military purposes.

The nuclear watchdog would work with Zimbabwe to agree on an action plan to implement measures to enhance the regulatory infrastructure, in line with international standards.

The delegation commended Zimbabwe for its "seriousness" and dedication to protecting the environment from the effects of nuclear radiation and radioactive sources.

"That the calibre of people we have here from all key Government ministries is evidence of the level of seriousness," head of delegation Mr Kgosietsile Leotwane, was quoted as saying.

Atomic or nuclear energy is perhaps one of the scantily understood areas in the world and anyone could be forgiven for a cold shudder whenever nuclear power is mentioned.

It is a subject that one might associate with powerful countries threatening to wipe each other from the face of the earth.

Worse still, some people might recall the worst nuclear accident in history, the Chernobyl disaster of 26 April 1986 in Ukraine.

The accident, which claimed 56 lives, resulted in a severe release of radioactive materials, following a massive power excursion which destroyed the reactor, sending "nuclear rain" falling across the former Soviet Union, Eastern, Western and Northern Europe.

Large areas in Ukraine, Belarus and Russia were seriously contaminated, resulting in the evacuation and resettlement of more 336 000 people.

The accident raised concerns about the safety of Soviet nuclear power industry as well as nuclear power in general, slowing its expansion for a number of years while forcing the then Soviet government to become less secretive about its nuclear activities.

To date, Russia, Ukraine and Belarus are still burdened with the continuing and substantial decontamination and health care costs of the Chernobyl accident.

It is estimated that there could be some 4 000 extra cancer deaths among the approximately 600 000 most highly exposed people.

Another chilling story is that of the atomic bomb the United States of America dropped in Japan's Hiroshima during the Second World War.

It is alleged that the Hiroshima bomb was made from uranium smuggled from the Congo.

Concerns have also been raised over the disposal of nuclear waste in developing countries as the substances have acute effects on human health and the environment.

This is the face of nuclear energy that has dogged the phenomenon for a long time, rendering nuclear a "pariah" in energy development.

Although the worst could well happen one day, say when one might miscue a finger on the deadly nuclear arsenal, however unpleasant that may sound, nuclear energy has better uses and developing countries including Zimbabwe might tap into this rich source of energy within acceptable limits, that is.

In simple terms, atomic energy is a highly concentrated form of energy produced when atoms of radioactive (highly unstable) matter such as uranium collide, in what is called nuclear fusion, to produce electrical energy.

The energy released is carried off as kinetic energy of emitted particles and is eventually transformed into other forms, mainly heat.

It is also used for the treatment of cancer patients, diagnostic procedures including organ scans, crop improvement through integrated nutrient management, level gauging in soft-drinks firms and assessing geothermal resources.

Zimbabwe has been co-operating with the IAEA on nuclear technology and applications to national priorities for sustainable development, based on agricultural production, health, water resources development, industrial applications, self-sufficiency and further strengthening the national radiation protection infrastructure.

It also co-operates in issues such as nuclear applications in food and agriculture focusing on animal disease and in addressing desertification.

In agriculture, nuclear applications are also made in improved crop varieties, nuclear insect control techniques, disease and soil management.

On the main, nuclear energy is considered a relatively "clean" source, which proponents say is necessary as the world seeks to minimise consumption of fossil fuels, which are blamed for polluting the air and causing global climate change.

Improvements in technology have also helped the nuclear cause.

Nuclear technology is said to have undergone an "evolution".

"No one is claiming that nuclear power is 100 percent safe. But new technological advances and new reactor designs have both reduced the likelihood of accidents and bolstered our ability to deal with any that do occur," said one report.

Analysts indicate that even renewable energy sources, such as biogas and solar energy, are unlikely to meet the energy demands of the world's rapidly growing urban population.

Estimates point to urban population doubling to almost 7,5 billion between now and 2050, which renewable fuels are unlikely to be able to cope with the strain that this will put on centralised energy systems.

On climate change, some authorities have hailed it as the "realistic" option in slowing global warming by reducing carbon emissions.

Africa, which is more vulnerable to climate change than other regions in the world, will stand to benefit immensely from the pursuit of the nuclear power route.

But doubts still linger around the subject of nuclear energy.

There have been fears that nuclear power might be diverted towards military ends.

In one of the most topical issues of this day, while Iran has said it is processing nuclear fuel for civilian use, it has been accused of wanting to construct nuclear weapons.

Thanks to the Western-created hype, some people actually think that Iran is the greatest threat to the world.

On the other hand, while the G8 has reinforced the importance of nuclear non-proliferation policies, countries that already possess large nuclear arsenals have failed to convince sceptics that they are reining in their nuclear plans, noted one report on nuclear energy.

"And the perception that nuclear weapons are restricted to a rich man's club makes it difficult to persuade other countries to relinquish their own ambitions," it said.

Some proponents of nuclear energy development, such as Russia, have been accused of wanting to capitalise on their expertise "primarily for their own economic and political reasons, rather than a genuine commitment to meet the needs of developing country as those countries perceive them."

Yet, in Africa the concept of nuclear energy is only nascent and nuclear power constitutes only a tiny fraction of Africa's energy.

There are only two nuclear power reactors on the entire continent, both located at Koeberg in South Africa.

South Africa accounts for 60 percent of all of Africa's energy production, while Africa is said to have 18 percent of the world's known recoverable uranium resources.

Most operational mines are located in Niger, Congo, Namibia and South Africa.

Prospecting for and other pre-production work is underway in such countries as Botswana, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Gabon, Guinea, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.