IAEA Safeguards in New Nuclear Facilities

The inclusion of safeguards considerations in the design and construction of new nuclear facilities early in the design process – safeguards by design (SBD) – offers an opportunity to minimize costs, delays and impact on facility operations. All stakeholders can potentially benefit from this approach. An important part of ensuring the successful inclusion of safeguards in the design of new nuclear facilities is dialogue between all stakeholders. Once the stakeholders understand the fundamentals of safeguards and their international obligations, they are better able to decide when and how to address safeguards considerations. Project managers can then decide when best to address safeguards issues in the schedule for building the nuclear facility in question. Current SBD-related activities underway with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) participation include the development of training materials, publication of guidance documents, early consideration of safeguards measures for new types of facility and dialogue between Member States. Since 2008, the IAEA’s biennial Development and Implementation Support Programme has included a task to promote the consideration of safeguards in the design of nuclear facilities. Guidance for Designers and Operators on Design Features and Measures to Facilitate the Implementation of Safeguards at Future Fuel Cycle Facilities has 13 participating Member State Support Programmes. Over the next two years, a suite of documents is being developed that includes introductory guidance as well as six separate facility-type-specific guidance publications. This paper will provide an overview of the SBD activities, describe the progress to date and outline future plans.