Supporting Nuclear Growth Through Safeguards by Design

Abstract

Every Non-Nuclear Weapons State (NNWS) party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) is required to conclude a comprehensive safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the State's obligations include the requirement to provide design information as soon as a nuclear facility project is authorized for construction, extension, refurbishment, etc. At the designer or vendor level there is no such legal obligation; however, incorporating safeguards considerations in the early design phase is a best practice known as Safeguards by Design (SBD). SBD doesn't introduce any new requirements, but rather provides an opportunity to reduce project risk associated with scope, schedule, budget and licensing, while also improving safeguards assurances to the international community. This paper outlines the objectives, benefits, and challenges of SBD, and provides an overview of information available to the nuclear design community. Some examples of successful SBD demonstrate how early and relatively simple design accommodations can facilitate IAEA safeguards implementation, assisting both the State and the IAEA.