NUCLEAR SECURITY, NUCLEAR SAFETY AND NUCLEAR SAFEGUARDS?

WHAT IS NUCLEAR SECURITY, NUCLEAR SAFETY AND NUCLEAR SAFEGUARDS?

Introduction

Nuclear Security, Nuclear Safety and Nuclear Safeguards are referred as the “THREE S”.

Areas of Implementation include;

i) Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). ?Management, internal rules, practices, and security measures.

ii) National: Policies, regulatory framework

ii) International: treaties, cooperation agreements, trade control regimes, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

NUCLEAR SAFETY

“The achievement of proper operating conditions, the prevention of accidents, or the mitigation of accident consequences, resulting in the protection of workers, the public, and the environment from undue radiation hazards.” (IAEA Nuclear Safety Glossary). Nuclear security is the oldest of the “three Ss." ?The incidents at Fukushima (2011) and Chernobyl (1986) affected the international community, and safety became the responsibility of the state and facility operators.

Role of the State

a.??Pursue ?appropriate legislations and through inspections, licensing and regulatory activities.

b.? Operators develop and implement policies at facilities in accordance to best practices and national law.

c. Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency (1986).

Key International Agreements on Nuclear Safety:

I)???? Convention on Nuclear Safety (1994)

II)?? Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management (1997).

iii ) Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident (1986)

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NUCLEAR SECURITY

Nuclear Security is the youngest of the “Three S." According to the IAEA Nuclear Safety Glossary, nuclear security is the prevention and detection of, and response to, theft, sabotage, unauthorized access, illegal transfer, or other malicious acts involving nuclear material, other radioactive substances, or their associated facilities.”. The origin of nuclear security was the 9/11 attack in the United States, which served as an eye-opener to the international community. Nuclear security is the responsibility of the state.?

The primary responsibility of nuclear security (NS) was physical protection (PP), that is, guards, gates, etc., whose main objectives were to “deter, detect, delay, respond, and recover, depending on their defense in depth. Over time, human security became a major concern, and elements like insider threats, nuclear material accounting and control (NMAC), and security culture became part of the norms of nuclear security.?

Role of the State in Nuclear Security ????????????????????

1.???? Design legislation and regulations of the state.

2.???? outline the Design Basic Threat (DBT)

3.???? Leverages law enforcement, intelligence, and counterterrorism resources.

4.???? Ensure Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) has upgraded Physical Protection Operational Systems,

5.???? Train personnel’s, staffs, and experts on appropriate protocols to maintain security.

Key International agreements on Nuclear Security:

I)????? Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (1980) + 2005 Amendment.

II)??? Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources.

III)? International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (2007). ?

IV)? UN Security Council Resolutions: ?1373 (2001).

V)??? UN Security Council Resolution: ?1540 (2004).

Key International initiatives on Nuclear Security:

I)????? Cooperative Threat Reduction Programmes (1990s onwards)

II)??? Global Partnership (G7-backed, 31 members, 2002)

III)? Nuclear Security Summits (2010-2016)

IV)? US Partnership for Nuclear Security

V)??? EU CBRN Centres of Excellence

NUCLEAR SAFEGUARDS

“A set of technical measures applied by the IAEA on nuclear material and activities, through which the Agency seeks to independently verify that nuclear facilities are not misused and nuclear material is not diverted from peaceful uses.” IAEA. In 1960, safeguards were created for Confidence Building Measures (CBM), and in 1970, the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) safeguards became a key instrument to verify adherence to non-proliferation commitments. In addition, bilateral treaties between the IAEA and member states are established, and the IAEA verifies the compliance of the states.

Goals of Safeguards:

·?????? Detect the diversion of nuclear material to the manufacture of nuclear weapons.

·?????? Deter the diversion of nuclear material by risk of early detection.

·?????? Ensure that all nuclear activity a state undertakes is for peaceful purposes and that a state is not engaging in illicit nuclear activities.

Nuclear Safeguards components

I)????? Nuclear Material: Uranium, Plutonium, Thorium “of a composition and purity suitable for fuel fabrication or for being isotopically enriched”

II)??? Amount, composition and chemical form of material measured :

·?????? When passing through “Key Measurement Points”

·?????? When held in “Material Balance Areas”

III)? A “Facility” for safeguards: fuel cycle facility or location where a certain material is stored

Role of the State

I)????? Creation of a State System for Accountancy and Control (SSAC) of Nuclear Material at the state level

II)??? Submission of regular reports on nuclear material and activities to the IAEA

III)? IAEA inspection of nuclear facilities to verify reports and prove compliance.

Key Safeguards Agreements:

I)????? Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement (INFCIRC/153).

II)??? Small Quantities Protocols.

III)? Additional Protocols (INFCIRC/540).

A.?? Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement

I)????? “Classic” Safeguards

II)??? First post-NPT Safeguards agreement covers all the state.

III)? Reports and inspections system focuses on verifying correctness of declarations

B.??? Small Quantities Protocol:

?i) Suspends application of most CSA provisions for states with little to no nuclear material

?? In conclusion, the state has a significant role in the “three S” and must adhere to international and national / domestic agreements to strengthen the Confidence Building Measures. Staff and personnel are trained to identify, mitigate and prevent threats, sabotage, and theft.

References

1. Muti, A. (n.d.).?Nuclear Safety, Security and Safeguards. Retrieved July 5, 2024, from https://www.vertic.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/AM-Nuclear-3S_UK-PONI-Presentation.pdf

2. Hanks, D., Washington, D., David, Hanks@nrc, & Gov. (2013).?Managing Safety, Security, and Safeguards (3S) Relationship: A National Regulatory Authority Perspective United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission. https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML1318/ML13189A006.pdf

3. IAEA. (2017, July 7).?Nuclear security series. IAEA. https://www.iaea.org/resources/nuclear-security-series?