Chapter 6. Nuclear materials

In 1999, the Nuclear Regulatory Authority of the Slovak Republic (UJD) performed 42 inspections of nuclear materials at nuclear installations and at other holders of nuclear materials, of which 29 were performed in co-operation with the IAEA. The main content of inspections performed jointly with the IAEA was inspection of fresh and spent fuel at NPP Bohunice and NPP Mochovce, as well as inspection of spent fuel prepared for transportation to abroad. Another area of nuclear materials inspection was at holders of nuclear materials outside of nuclear installations on the territory of the Slovak Republic. There were 13 individual inspections of UJD performed there. UJD performed inspections on selected transports of fresh fuel and each transport of spent fuel. All transports of nuclear materials in 1999 were made in compliance with the conditions of permit from UJD, there were no significant shortcomings found.The main focus of UJD in the field of physical protection in the assessed period was on inspection of the operational physical protection system at the NPPs Bohunice site (AKOBOJE - automated system of security protection of the nuclear power plant) and on inspection of a similar AKOBOJE system at NPP Mochovce during the operation of Unit 1 and at the time of preparation of Unit 2 NPP Mochovce commissioning. During 1999, UJD performed 14 inspections focused on physical protection of nuclear installation and nuclear materials. In 1999, there were no extraordinary events noticed which would require intervention by secure services participating on physical protection of nuclear installations and nuclear materials.In 1999, there was 1 case of theft of nuclear material - in August an unknown perpetrator stole a container from depleted uranium containing radioactive source from the sugar mill in Pohronsky Ruskov. The case is being investigated by the police. UJD has continued in co-operation with the IAEA in updating the database on illicit trafficking of radioactive materials. The regional project of the IAEA has been launched with the presence of Slovak experts focused on assistance to the member states in combating illicit trafficking of radioactive materials