Group 2: Securing the Use, Storage and Transport of Radiological and Strategic Nuclear - PowerPoint Presentation

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Group 2: Securing the Use, Storage and Transport of Radiological and Strategic Nuclear Materials

Kent ColePresident and Chief Executive OfficerNAC International

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Working Group Scope

Securing

the Use, Storage and Transport of Radiological and Strategic Nuclear Materials at civilian facilities:Minimizing the civilian use of strategic nuclear materials, most significantly HEU, and removal for disposal / downblendingRadioactive Source SecurityUsed Nuclear Fuel Security (new topic for NIS-2016)Transportation Security (new topic for NIS-2016)

The report acknowledges that industry has a vital, but limited role in nuclear material security because it is national governments that set policies, ratify treaties and set regulations related to the security of nuclear materials

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Membership

Sun Qin, China National Nuclear

CorporationRick Didsbury, Canadian Nuclear LaboratoriesJean Michel Romary, AREVAMichel Pays, EDFJack Edlow, Edlow InternationalMatt Fox, INSJong-Kyung Kim, KAERIKwang-Seok Lee, KAERIPhumzile Tshelane, South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (NECSA)Kent Cole, NAC International (chair)

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Material Security Basics

Objective: Protect against unauthorized removal and malicious acts

Functions: Deter, Detect, Delay, Respond and Security Management

Security Level is based on a Graded Approach considering the material attractiveness and the threatFor certain materials, elimination or minimization is a better objective with associated relocation of excess material to special purpose facilities for disposition.

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HEU Minimization Program History

The Reduced Enrichment of

Research and

Test Reactor (RERTR) program was first established in

1978The Global Threat Reduction Initiative (GTRI) replaced RERTR in 2004The Office of Material Management and Minimization (M3) replaced GTRI in January 2015.

Source: U.S. National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine, “Reducing the Use of Highly Enriched Uranium in Civilian Research Reactors”, 2016

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Accomplishments

Over the 2010-2016 Summit Period

23 HEU Fueled Reactors converted or shutdown13 Countries eliminated all HEU (and separated Pu)3 of 8 major reactors producing Mo-99 are now using LEU Targets; significant activity toward industry conversion to LEURadioactive Source security significantly improved globally

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Countries Eliminating All HEU

Austria (2012)

Brazil *BulgariaChile (2010) *ColombiaCzech Republic (2013) *Denmark *Georgia (2015) *GreeceHungary (2013) *

SloveniaSpain *Sweden *Switzerland (2015)Taiwan #Thailand *Turkey (2010) *Ukraine (2012) *Uzbekistan (2015)Vietnam (2013) *

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#

Taiwan also included

* Attending the 2016 NSS HEU eliminated during Summits period

Iraq

Jamaica (2015)

Republic of Korea

*

Latvia

Libya

Mexico

(2012) *

Philippines *

Portugal

Romania *

Serbia (2010)

Accomplishments in Reactor HEU to LEU Conversions

95 HEU fuel reactors converted or shutdown.

56 since GTRI began in 2004 23 since 2010 NSS 7 since last NSS1st Russian Domestic Reactor (ARGUS) conversion (2014)1st Chinese MNSR conversion (2016)Recent Conversions: WWR-K (Kazakhstan), SLOWPOKE (Jamaica)Significant international cooperation and funded programs for U-Mo LEU fuel development

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Accomplishments in Mo-99 Production

Nearly all Mo-99 production reactors run on LEU fuel

Mo-99 producers have begun to use LEU targetsOPAL, RA-3 and Safari already using LEU targetsConversion to LEU targets in process for most othersBroad international support to move to LEU and unsubsidized productionSeveral projects in various phases of development and licensing

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Accomplishments in Clean-out of Strategic Nuclear Materials

Uzbekistan, Jamaica and Switzerland are free of HEU and high purity Pu since the 2014 Summit

Japan is removing a significant quantity of high purity Pu and HEU from the FCA facility in 2016Removal projects underway in Kazakhstan and CanadaSignificant activity is planned prior to Return program closure over the next several years

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Accomplishments in Radiological Source Security

Unique challenge due to variety, location, use, transport, storage and their management when

disusedIAEA has done significant work to structure and advance its Sources Security program with member statesIndustry groups and NGO’s have embraced and included Source Security in their scope/missionFocus on responsible management of disused sourcesSignificant increase globally in guidance and training

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Accomplishments in Used Fuel Security

Unique challenge is large amount (400,000 tons)

Robust physical protection of nuclear facilities, enhanced since 9/1/2001Responsible management of used nuclear fuel should also include tangible progress by States and Operators in siting, developing and operating long term disposal facilities to support the use of nuclear power

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Accomplishments in Transportation Security

I

ndustry organizations interface to represents industry with IAEA and national regulators on radioactive material transportation mattersProvides mechanism for lessons learned and best practicesNumerous training course, tabletop exercises and field exercises (including road, rail and sea) which involve government, polices, special forces, regulators and industry

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Conclusions & Recommendations (2014)

To

continue to endeavor to fulfill the recommendations contained within the 2012 NIS statement.

To

endeavor further to minimize the use of HEU through the conversion from HEU to LEU fuel in research reactors, where technically and economically feasible, and through the switch from HEU to LEU targets in radioisotope production, while assuring a continuous and stable supply of Mo-99.

To

foster the development of high density fuel both by enhancing the existing scientific coordination and by addressing in parallel the industrialization issues, at the worldwide level.

To

readily share, within appropriate conditions, their experience and technologies regarding the minimization of use of HEU.

To

continue to collaborate on international programs to research and develop new technologies that require neither HEU fuels for reactor operation nor HEU targets for radioisotope production.

To

recognize the importance of States' roles for introducing institutional measures to promote the use of LEU-based technologies, including the implementation of appropriate financial and other incentives to encourage greater use of non-HEU based medical isotopes.

Conclusions &

Recommendations (2014)

To endeavor to work with their governments and the medical isotope supply chain for the application and implementation of the HLG-MR’s policy

recommendations

To

engage with states and relevant organizations to ensure that there is a diversity of suppliers of 19.75% enriched uranium and a viable disposition route for LEU research and test reactor fuels after the end of the FRRSNFA.

To

continue the development of technically and financially viable methods for reprocessing LEU fuels, or otherwise providing for their long term management and disposal.

To

accept return of disused sources which they supplied, and to assist holders of those sources in making logistical and financial arrangements for their return. When return is (practically) not possible, safe and secure management as waste should be guaranteed.

To

develop substitutes and more secure designs for particularly vulnerable or dispersible radioactive sources.

To

continue to work with states, international organizations and NGOs to ensure that the management of materials of concern is done in practical, efficient and cost effective ways.

Conclusions &

Recommendations (2016)

To endeavor to fulfill the recommendations contained within the 2016 NIS Joint Statement.

To

continue to minimize stocks of HEU and to keep stockpiles of separated plutonium to the minimum level, both as consistent with national requirements and nuclear fuel cycle policy.

To

continue to cooperate with government efforts to repatriate HEU stocks to their countries of origin.

To

cooperate with government efforts to repatriate quantities of high purity plutonium currently held at research and testing facilities that no longer are required.

To

continue to safely and securely manage inventories of used nuclear fuel in facilities that are robustly designed with multiple layers of physical protection and detection capability in accordance with national regulations, including implementing new regulations and requirements pursuant to emerging threats.

To

continue to safely and securely transport radioactive materials in accordance with national and international regulations, including implementing new regulations and requirements pursuant to emerging threats.