IAEA Symposium on International Safeguards

RESCINDING FROM SQP TO FULL SCOPE CSA Safeguards challenges of the national authorities from nuclear power embarking countries/Jordan

Not scheduled

5m

M Building (Vienna International Centre)

Roundtable Member Preparing for safeguards new facilities, processes and campaigns (NEW) [NEW] Nuclear Newcomers – Strategies and Experiences with Enhancing Safeguards Infrastructure to Support the Introduction of Nuclear Power

Speaker

Malak Bani-Melhem

Description

The aim of the paper is to present feedback and share lessons learned by Jordan during the process of scaling up its safeguards infrastructure to address the challenges and to meet the requirements of a nuclear power program. This was led by making full use of IAEA review missions and other IAEA advisory services. Three main areas were discussed in order to ensure the effective and efficient implementation of safeguards in Jordan’s future NPP: (a) international obligations, (b) national technical and administrative requirements and (c) the role and responsibilities of all those involved in the safeguards implementation, including the practical implementation of the State System of Accounting for and Control of nuclear material (SSAC).
In 2007, Jordan had the intention to develop a civilian nuclear power program. The first step was to develop the necessary legal and regulatory framework and to put in place and empower authorities responsible for implementing the related set of laws and regulations. The Energy and Minerals Regulatory Commission is currently the national regulatory authority responsible for implementing Safeguards Agreement along with the implementation of the safety and security requirements. The concerning international instruments in the area of Safeguards are: The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT); and the Agreement between Jordan and the Agency for the application of safeguards in connection with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons INFCIRC/258/Add.1.
During the course of embarking on a nuclear power program, Jordan also developed a plan for the timely rescission of its Small Quantity Protocol (SQP) to scale up best its SSAC taking into account the increase of nuclear activities and flow of nuclear material in the country together with the development of the nuclear power program.
The paper discussed, legal, administrative and technical challenges that were faced by Jordan during the rescission phase of the SQP and with the starting of the full implementing the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement (CSA), and will share lessons learned in enhancing the safeguards infrastructure that might be useful for other countries aiming at the development of a nuclear power program in the future.