Steps in Bridging Gaps of Safeguards Activities for Developing Countries

The challenges encountered by national institutions in implementing safeguards in developing countries are overwhelming. In most of these countries, safeguards activities over the years have not been a major priority to most communities and governments which have unavoidably become issues of global concerns. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), about 1.6 billion people do not have access to energy. In recent years, due to this insufficient energy availability, many developing countries have expressed interest in the development of their first nuclear energy power plant to address their energy needs. These mining and manufacturing industries also serve as repository for nuclear materials. This paper looks at challenges encountered by developing countries in organizing, structuring, monitoring and inspection of facilities within the framework of the NPT. The lack of awareness of safeguards activities in these countries significantly impede the compliance and control of information and the reporting system for developing countries to declare nuclear activities as required by parties. Political will and knowledge on the use and implementation of safeguards have been identified as complicating factors in these countries in this regard. To reduce the barriers, the study employs the use of a combination of strategies necessary to engage public awareness, and ensure national government and stakeholders' involvement to improve accuracy in inventory. Additionally, this will enhance inspection and robust reporting system that is driven by modern technology. The removal of these barriers will provide benefits to developing countries and national governments to generate a comprehensive inventory and information flow for recording purposes. (author)