State and Facility Nuclear Material Accounting System for Emerging Nuclear Power Countries

People who do not believe that the nuclear renaissance is happening, should take a look at what’s going on in the Middle East and Asia. Countries in these regions are in the process of building nuclear plants to meet the future power needs of their growing countries. Members of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) countries that have or will have fissile nuclear materials are required to follow standard international guidelines for the accountability and protection of nuclear materials within the borders of their countries. These regions will have to purchase nuclear fuel from countries that have both the capability and authorization to produce nuclear fuel. Most countries providing nuclear fuel and/or nuclear power plant equipment require assurance that the material will only be used for peaceful purposes. This reporting guideline is in addition to the requirement of information about the amount of nuclear material, its location, the facilities legal usage, the legal possession, the transport, and the import and export of nuclear material. Facilities in these countries will need a system to track nuclear material within their defined Material Balance Areas (MBA).