Light water small modular reactors: Non-proliferation and security aspects - 5293

This paper synthesizes findings on non-proliferation safeguards and security analyses performed by US-DOE and French CEA. It identifies several technical features associated with light water cooled small modular reactor (LW-SMR) concepts being developed in various countries, and considers their nonproliferation and security implications relative to large (GW_e-scale) light water reactors (LWRs). It appears that proliferation pathways are basically the same for LW-SMRs and for conventional LWRs. Robustness against sabotage, nuclear material theft or diversion risks are similar. Several LW-SMR technical features may likely provide security advantages when compared with current conventional LWRs: below-grade siting, passive safety features, lessening of large coolant pipes, smaller source term. On the contrary, a larger number of modules may increase security and safeguards costs. In the case of LW-SMRs implemented in newcomer countries, the spent fuel management strategy must be carefully considered and managed