International Nuclear Safeguard Regime

Abstract

INTERNATIONAL NUCLEAR SAFEGUARDS REGIME This seminar explains what a nuclear safeguard which is known to be the major instruments used to enhance peaceful use of Nuclear Energy / Technology in the industries. There are over 440 commercial nuclear power reactors operating in more than 30countries, with about 377,000MW capacity of electricity in all. Nuclear energy provides about 17% of the world’s electricity as continuous, reliable base-load power and their efficiency is increasing.

Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Act 1995 saddles the Authority (NNRA) with the responsibility to ensure safe application of nuclear energy and programmes. Act 19 -1995, Section 4 (1 d): The Authority shall ―Perform all necessary functions to enable Nigeria meet its national and international Safeguards and Safety obligations in the application of nuclear energy and ionization.

The seminar talks about reason why safeguards is needed which is to verify that nuclear material or equipment are not used to produce nuclear weapons, To verify that a state is using nuclear energy only for peaceful purpose, To ensure that special fissionable or other source material, services, equipment, facilities and information made available by the Agency are not used in such a way as to further any military or malicious purpose.

It discusses the challenges of nuclear safeguards; In recent years, it had led to increased expectations and highlighted the need to strengthen the effectiveness of the Safeguards system. These challenges have also demonstrated that when international inspectors are given adequate authority and cooperation, and access to the relevant information, are backed by an effective compliance mechanism and are supported by international consensus, the Safeguards system is able to provide soundly based, impartial information to decision makers that would not otherwise be available. The seminar concludes that NNRA should explore training opportunity at the IAEA for safeguards inspectors in the areas of measurement and verification techniques. The NNRA should also acquire some Safeguards equipment for her inspectors to independently carryout Safeguards verification.

Seminar presented by EDEMANWAN B. ITA