Current Activities and Future Challenges of FNCA’s Nuclear Security and Safeguards Project

At present, several Asian countries have been planning the introduction of nuclear power following the trend of a “Nuclear Renaissance”. In the future, a dramatic increase of nuclear material is foreseen and nuclear security and nuclear safeguards as well as safety will become more important in the promotion of the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The Nuclear Security and Safeguards Project (NSSP) which started in 2011 within the framework of the Forum for Nuclear Cooperation in Asia (FNCA), aims to cooperate with FNCA member countries in order to strengthen their infrastructure for nuclear security and safeguards. FNCA is a Japanese government-led cooperation framework for the peaceful use of nuclear technology in Asia. The framework for FNCA cooperation consists of a Ministerial-level meeting, a Coordinators meeting, a Panel meeting and 10 topical projects. The participating 12 countries are Australia, Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. The objectives of this Project are to share experience, knowledge and information on nuclear security and safeguards implementation including human resource development (HRD) and R&D and also to exchange views on policy, strategy and framework for nuclear security and safeguards. This project is expected to raise the awareness of the importance of nuclear security and safeguards, facilitate information sharing of nuclear security and safeguards, promote capacity building for nuclear security and safeguards, and enhance nuclear security and safeguards regimes. This paper outlines the role and objectives of NSSP as well as FNCA framework, and provides activity examples of how NSSP member countries work together to strengthen nuclear security, enhance safeguards effectiveness and raise awareness. This paper also describes the future challenges and strategies of NSSP for the contributions in FNCA member countries and the international collaboration with other organizations (IAEA, APSN and others).