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UK nuclear safeguards support programme: reports on activities and progress

Activities and progress in the UK contribution to the maintenance of the international nuclear safeguards regime.

From:
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
Published
4 November 2013
Last updated
22 August 2017 — See all updates

Nuclear safeguards are technical measures used to verify that states comply with their international treaty obligations not to misuse nuclear materials for the manufacture of nuclear explosives. They are an essential part of the nuclear non-proliferation regime.

Established in 1981, the UK Safeguards Support Programme is part of the UK contribution to the maintenance of international safeguards. It provides technical support to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in verifying the peaceful use of nuclear technology. The programme is managed by the National Nuclear Laboratory on behalf of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

The UK Safeguards Support Programme contributes:

  • expertise and advice for the further development of safeguards strategies in new and existing activities and plants in the nuclear fuel cycle
  • services to support the IAEA in analysing nuclear material arising from samples taken in the course of safeguards inspections
  • access to facilities and experts for the training of Agency personnel in advanced techniques applied in safeguards inspections and on fuel cycle plants
  • development of techniques, methods and procedures for safeguarding facilities in the nuclear fuel cycle
  • development and assessment of equipment, instruments and methods for application in safeguarding the nuclear fuel cycle
  • assistance through the provision of expert staff to complete specialised programmes of work that cannot be resourced through a permanent position with the IAEA

The activities and progress of the UK Safeguards Support Programme are published on an annual basis.

Reports

Updates to this page

Published 4 November 2013
Last updated 22 August 2017 + show all updates

  1. Report for 2015 to 2016 published.

  2. UK safeguards support programme: 2014/15 report on activities and progress published.

  3. First published.

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