The use of nuclear energy should continue even though Japan's massive earthquake has damaged some nuclear facilities in the country, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Yukiya Amano said Tuesday.

We need stable source of energy and to mitigate effects of climate change. In this respect, the benefits of nuclear energy can far outweigh the risks, he said.

The chief of the UN nuclear watchdog said the peaceful use of nuclear energy could offer the potential for cancer treatment, lower energy cost and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These facts will not be changed by the massive earthquake in Japan.