Peaceful use of fissile material: BASE to join ESARDA

Source: BASE

How can the peaceful use of fissile materials be monitored and compliance with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty be ensured? These are just some of the topics addressed by ESARDA, an association of European organisations and associated international partners.

Representatives of the member organisations of the European Safeguards Research and Development Organisation (ESARDA) met at their annual conference in Luxembourg from 14 to 16 May. BASE was represented by Jochen Ahlswede, Head of the Research and International Affairs Department.

During the conference, participants from various sectors such as public authorities, operators of nuclear facilities and research institutions, convened in various committees and expert groups. The accession of BASE to ESARDA was approved during this annual meeting. ‘The inclusion of BASE in the expert organisation ESARDA reinforces our international network. The exchange of experience in the field of fissile material monitoring is an important contribution to the long-term safe disposal of the highly radioactive legacy of nuclear power,’ says Jochen Ahlswede.

The ‘dual-use’ problem of nuclear power and international monitoring of civilian use

The dual use of nuclear power, both for civilian purposes such as the generation of electricity and for the production of nuclear weapons, presents an unsolvable challenge. To ensure an exclusively peaceful use of fissile materials, nuclear facilities in Germany are also monitored by international organisations such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This is done primarily through the application of monitoring measures (so-called safeguards) using special seals, surveillance cameras, the analysis of environmental samples, etc. Such monitoring is complex and requires individual concepts tailored to the respective type of plant. In addition, special techniques and equipment must be developed depending on the respective requirements. Research institutes and public authorities around the world are working continuously to further develop monitoring methods.

Monitoring a geological repository against the proliferation of nuclear weapons

As fissile materials will remain subject to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty even after they have been transferred to a repository, the spent fuel elements from German nuclear power plants will also have to be monitored there in the long term. The ESARDA working group on final disposal, which BASE is now a member of, deals with specific issues related to monitoring the final disposal of spent fuel elements.

In Luxembourg, scientists and experts exchanged views on current research and development projects regarding monitoring techniques, and discussed their experiences from the various European and international repository projects. As a supervisory and licensing authority in the field of nuclear waste disposal, this exchange is of great importance to BASE. Safeguards should be considered as early as possible in the design of facilities such as repositories. BASE has already started an initial research project on safeguards in nuclear waste disposal

Information on ESARDA as an expert organisation

Founded in 1969, ESARDA (European Safeguards Research and Development Organisation) is an association of European organisations dedicated to the further development of safeguards and the coordination of research and development in this field. ESARDA serves as a forum for the exchange of information and experience between the various stakeholders (operators of nuclear facilities, national and EU authorities, research organisations and universities). There are currently nine active working groups. The committee also organises an annual symposium, which biennially takes place as a public conference. ESARDA is the editor of a peer-reviewed journal for scientific publications on safeguards and non-proliferation.