Chapter 8. Safeguards technology. Paper 13. Safeguards techniques

The technologies which would be needed for the IAEA to achieve its safeguards objectives at large nuclear fuel processing facilities are described in this paper, with special reference to a future, large nuclear fuel reprocessing plant. It will be necessary to employ an optimum combination of material accountancy, containment and surveillance. The design of such future safeguards systems would require that these future facilities be designed to facilitate IAEA safeguards. For each major section of a large future plant, the IAEA should: (a) observe and verify all measurements of nuclear materials transferred into and withdrawn from the area, (b) apply containment and surveillance to detect any undeclared additions and removals, and (c) employ instruments continually to monitor the materials in storage or in processing equipment. The necessary technologies exist but the member states, especially those which plan to build large new facilities, will have to assist the IAEA in their development and demonstration. It is noted that national safeguards programmes could profit from closer coordination with the national programmes for reactor safety and for radiation protection. (author)