Nuclear Infrastructure Development and the Next Generation Safeguards Initiative

As more countries turn to nuclear power to meet fast-growing energy demands, the National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) Office of Nonproliferation and International Security (NIS) has gradually increased its engagement with foreign partners to ensure that their nuclear programs are developed in a manner that is safe, secure and in concert with international nonproliferation and safeguards obligations. The central goal of NIS interactions with countries that have credible plans for civil nuclear power is to collaborate in the development of nuclear infrastructure that incorporates key areas such as: regulatory effectiveness; reactor safety and operations; radiation protection; health physics; energy planning; low and medium level waste disposal; emergency management and planning; human resource development; and enhancement of state systems of accounting and control of nuclear materials. The Next-Generation Safeguards Initiative (NGSI) will utilize efforts that are already underway through a variety of cooperative mechanisms, and will ensure that U.S. national laboratory personnel can expand their engagement with foreign counterparts in these and other areas. In addition, NGSI will seek to provide further opportunities for specialists in new nuclear states to acquire technical training in safeguards, export controls, and physical protection to create a safeguards and nonproliferation culture.