Year
2005
Abstract
The International Atomic Energy Agency (“the Agency” or “IAEA”) operates a large diversity of equipment for safeguards and nuclear security purposes. Ongoing equipment development is necessary in order to respond to changing Agency needs, to enhance and sustain existing equipment, to establish and implement the next generation of instruments and, to adapt new and improved technologies. Tailored to the IAEA Medium Term Strategy 2006–2011, this plan describes the Department of Safeguards’ (“the Department’s”) objectives in the area of equipment development. The plan defines those objectives in broad terms and leaves detailed definition to the biennial IAEA Research & Development Programme for Nuclear Verification. The plan is structured to meet the following general strategic objectives: • Improve detection capability for safeguards verification by developing and implementing new or improved equipment/technologies and by assessing new fuel cycle technologies to determine the need for advanced methods and techniques for safeguards implementation; • Enhance the capability of detecting undeclared material and activities by analyzing, studying, developing and commissioning new equipment and techniques, thereby improving the confidence level of conclusions regarding the absence of such materials and activities; • Improve efficiency and/or effectiveness; • Support the disposition of excess nuclear weapon materials by developing appropriate verification equipment and inventory monitoring systems as required; • Assist Member States in improving their national systems for administration, accountancy and control of nuclear materials by defining requirements and testing equipment and techniques to combat illicit trafficking. This paper describes the major equipment development directions within those objectives and their associated priority.