An Operators’ Experience of Applying Safeguards by Design

Safeguards-by-design is defined as the consideration of safeguards throughout the lifecycle of a nuclear facility, from conceptual design to decommissioning. Sellafield Limited are currently designing, constructing and moving into operations with a number of new facilities, most notably a nuclear material storage facility as part of the UK strategy for consolidating nuclear material from other UK facilities to allow for their declassification. Although safeguards-by-design has not introduced any new safeguards requirements to the various projects, it has provided an opportunity for Sellafield Limited to engage voluntarily with DG ENER earlier than legally required in order to reduce project risk. It has been in the interests of both Sellafield Limited and DG ENER to collaborate in order to facilitate the effective implementation of safeguards. The Safeguards-by-design process has facilitated enhanced understanding of various facilities and their capabilities and the suitability for safeguards implementation, whilst driving value for money and ensuring safeguards related issues are addressed in line with the project schedule. This paper shares learning from the safeguards- by-design process at various lifecycle phases in a number of facilities. Typically, to meet the safeguards requirements, a close dialogue has been established between the interested parties on a consistent basis and early contact at the concept and design stages has provided the operator with high-level safeguards principles to work to and has facilitated the inclusion of safeguards instrumentation into the overall design and subsequent facility construction. Detailed discussion at the early design stages has raised the profile of nuclear material safeguards within the wider Sellafield community. While nuclear materials accountancy and safeguards generally has a small impact on project cost and overall schedule, lack of sufficiently detailed consideration early in the design process can result in a much larger impact. The task of avoiding such increases is assigned to the facility design and construction project management, with the support of safeguards specialists, who can better address issues when informed at an early stage.