Effective Implementation of Safety, Security, and Safeguards for Countries Building the Infrastructure to Support a Nuclear Power Program

摘要

A nuclear power program is a major undertaking requiring careful planning, preparation, and a major investment in a sustainable infrastructure that provides the legal, governmental, regulatory, technological, human, and industrial support to ensure that nuclear power plants are designed and operated in a safe and secure manner and that nuclear materials are used exclusively for peaceful purposes. For countries embarking on nuclear power, the development and implementation of an appropriate infrastructure is essential. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) advises that such countries follow the ‘Milestones” approach, which describes the issues and phases necessary for building the capacities of their governmental, industrial, technical, and educational institutions as part of the process for planning, constructing, and building their first nuclear power plant. This comprehensive approach covers the issues of safety, security, and safeguards. During the implementation of the nuclear power program, the nuclear operator must comply with a number of national and international requirements in the areas of nuclear safety, security, and safeguards. These requirements are reflected in national laws and in regulations (including those from nuclear regulatory bodies, security organizations, and other institutions). Identifying effective and efficient implementation strategies to address this can help embarking countries leverage their typically limited resources where all three areas may be covered by small organizations. The topic of interfaces between safety and security and between security and safeguards has been discussed at various international events. In November 2012, the IAEA held a technical meeting entitled “Safety, Security and Safeguards: Interfaces and Synergies in the Development of a Nuclear Power Program.” The major objectives of the meeting were to learn from its Member States about their views and practices for implementing all three areas of safety, security, and safeguards within the larger context of infrastructure development for a nuclear power program. Most participants in the technical meeting were interested in identifying potential interfaces and synergies for improved regulations and operations of nuclear power plants. Furthermore, some existing good practices were identified by countries that have taken such an approach. This paper reviews the results of the IAEA Technical Meeting, focusing on the experience of some Member States in building effective national systems to manage safety, security, and safeguards.