Current Status of Nuclear Material Control in Brazil

The Nuclear Energy Commission of Brazil (CNEN) is the government organization responsible for regulating all nuclear activities in Brazil. CNEN is also responsible for ensuring that facility operators are complying with their obligations concerning nuclear material control and that all nuclear facilities and materials are used only for peaceful purposes, as established in 1988 Brazilian Constitution. The national regulation CNEN-NN- 2.02 establishes the regulatory requirements in this area. In order to accomplish its obligation as national regulator, CNEN performs not only inspections, but also analysis of information, preparation and evaluation of documentation, planning of activities and nuclear material verification using non-destructive and destructive techniques. This activity is supported by an independent laboratorial infrastructure available within CNEN. Information on nuclear material inventories and the associated transactions (domestic transfers, importation and exportation, variations due to processing, etc) are routinely received from facilities and audited at CNEN. The web based database e-Gamma has been developed by CNEN for generation, analysis, approval and reporting of accountancy data. Two organizations currently apply external nuclear safeguards in Brazil: the BrazilianArgentine Agency for Accounting and Control of Nuclear Materials (ABACC) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). ABACC is responsible for the implementation of the Common System of Accounting for and Control of Nuclear Materials (SCCC), established by the Agreement between Brazil and Argentina for the exclusively peaceful use of nuclear energy, signed in 1991. The safeguards applied by the IAEA is based on the socalled “Quadripartite Agreement”, signed by Brazil, Argentina, IAEA and ABACC in 1991. This agreement is a comprehensive type safeguards agreement based on the IAEA´s model INFCIRC-153. The two agencies are completely independent and need to reach their own conclusions concerning the peaceful use of the nuclear facilities and materials in Brazil, taking all necessary actions to avoid unnecessary duplication of efforts. CNEN is responsible for the management of the Brazilian System of Accountancy and Control (SSAC) and the interface of Brazil with the external safeguards agencies. This paper presents the status of the nuclear activities in Brazil, the role of the SSAC and the synergy with ABACC and IAEA.