Visitors learn how the nuclear fuel cycle works, Sellafield, UK. (Credit: BNFL)
An Expert Group to consider ways to tighten international controls on the nuclear fuel cycle will hold its first meeting at IAEA headquarters in Vienna this month.
Set up by the Agency as part of efforts to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, the Group’s focus is on proliferation-sensitive parts of the nuclear fuel cycle. Or what IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei describes as the "Achilles´ heel" of the nuclear proliferation regime - the production of new fuel, the processing of weapon-usable material, and spent fuel management.
The Expert Group will identify issues and possible multilateral approaches to strengthening controls over these sensitive aspects of the front and back ends of the fuel cycle. Some of the options the Expert Group will explore are:
"I am aware that this is a complex issue. But we owe it to ourselves to examine all possible options. Common sense and recent experience make clear that the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which has served us well since 1970, must be tailored to fit 21st century realities. Without threatening national sovereignty, we can toughen the non-proliferation regime," Dr. ElBaradei said. (See Story Resources for more).
The Group comprises 23 experts drawn from as many countries, who are participating in their personal capacity. It is chaired by Mr. Bruno Pellaud, Former Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Safeguards.
The need to develop a more "proliferation resistant" fuel cycle through the use of multilateral approaches is not a new issue. Over the past five decades, concerns have been raised about the adequacy of international safeguards to detect and deter the misuse of nationally controlled nuclear fuel cycle facilities. Recent events have highlighted the possibility that a State engaged in declared enrichment and reprocessing activities for peaceful purposes, could potentially misuse the nuclear materials, technology or know-how for the development of a nuclear-weapon programme.
The Expert Group will meet four times over the next six months, before submitting its findings to the IAEA Director General by March 2005.
