IAEA Safeguards Aspects of, and Issues in, Uranium Mining and Ore Processing

As part of the efforts to strengthen international safeguards, including enhancing its ability to provide credible assurance of the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities, the IAEA is making use of increased amounts and types of information on Member States' nuclear and nuclear related activities. This information includes declarations provided by States (e.g. in accordance with safeguards agreements and/or the Additional Protocol), information collected by the IAEA (e.g. inspectors' findings, environmental sampling data) and other information available to the IAEA (e.g. open sources, satellite photographs and data). In seeking technical tools to aid enhanced information analysis, the IAEA's Department of Safeguards developed the Physical Model under Task 5 of Programme 93+2. This includes all the main activities that may be involved in the nuclear fuel cycle. Volume 1 of the Physical Model addresses the key aspects and indicators associated with uranium mining and processing. The revised Volume 1, entitled Mining and Ore Processing, is the product of a group effort of experts from within the Department of Safeguards, other Departments within the IAEA and Member States. This presentation will provide an overview of the role of Volume 1 of the Physical Model. (author)