TECHNIQUES FOR VERIFICATION OF ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES: A REVIEW

Proliferation sensitivity of enrichment technology remains a major concern in safeguards. To face this challenge, in April 2005 the IAEA convened a Technical Meeting on Techniques for Verification of Enrichment. While the main focus of the Technical Meeting was on the application of techniques for safeguarding gas centrifuge enrichment plants, other enrichment technologies were also covered in the context of safeguarding R&D installations and detecting undeclared enrichment activities. The meeting brought together uranium enrichment technologists, safeguards specialists, experts in enrichment verification and detection techniques, and IAEA safeguards staff. The meeting participants reviewed current practices and technologies for safeguards verification techniques for declared enrichment facilities and R&D facilities, and techniques for the detection of undeclared enrichment activities. This paper summarizes the main meeting conclusions from the author perspective, who chaired the meeting.