Speaker
Description
The paper attempts and presents a situational analysis and experiences of Malawi in implementation of safeguards. The paper is divided into three parts. Firstly the paper provides a background of the country in relation to the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Secondly the paper introduces what efforts Malawi has done to domestic the obligations of the NPT and lastly the paper discusses the implementation of safeguards outlining some of challenges and solutions developed in national accounting of nuclear material.
Malawi is a party to the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), as well as the regional nuclear weapon free zone treaty, Treaty of Pelindaba. The country concluded the Comprehensive Safeguard Agreement (CSA) and Additional Protocol. Making strides to provide a conducive environment for implementation of safeguards, Malawi developed and enacted the Atomic Energy Act in 2011.Part thirteen of the Act, section 66 to 69 makes provisions for the peaceful use of nuclear material, prohibits proliferation activities and provides for the application and cooperation in the implementation of safeguards. The Act also makes provisions for accounting of nuclear material and monitoring of facilities in Malawi.
Malawi poses a nuclear mine allocated in the northern part of the country called Kayelekera Uranium Mine. The mining has been operation since 2009 but currently the operations has been halted due to the low prices of uranium. The country has been accounting for the nuclear material produced and exported from the country. Initially, nuclear material was accounted through paper trail. In order to ease reporting of information, the IAEA with support from member’s states developed an online system which has simplified reporting and enable effective implementation of safeguards.
| Topics | SGI2 |
|---|---|
| Which "Key Question" does your Abstract address? | SGI2.2 |
| Which alternative "Key Question" does your Abstract address? (if any) | SGI2.1 |
