DYB2011-Part-II-web

United Nations Disarmament Yearbook 2011: Part II
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scientific support to competent authorities and other institutions responsible
for nuclear security in a country. The concept has been successfully rolled out
in several countries, such as Ghana and Pakistan.
Nuclear security peer reviews
The IAEA continued to implement peer reviews and advisory services to
help States evaluate their nuclear security systems and needs. During the year,
17 such missions were conducted with a focus on physical protection and
the legal, regulatory and practical measures for controlling nuclear and other
radioactive material. The Agency implemented three International Physical
Protection Advisory Services in France, Sweden and the United States,
countries with large nuclear programmes. The results of these missions will
be disseminated to other States. It continued to promote other review services
at the request of States to examine arrangements to detect illicit nuclear
trafficking and respond to nuclear security emergencies and incidents. The
IAEA also conducted a number of technical visits, which addressed security
needs at locations including border crossings, medical facilities, scientific
institutes and industrial sites.
Risk reduction
On request and in cooperation with States, the IAEA continued to
provide assistance in upgrading the physical protection of nuclear and other
radioactive sources, such as radioactive waste and associated facilities and
transports, against defined threats. These upgrades covered all major functions
of the physical protection system, which are detection, delay and response.
In 2011, the Agency completed upgrades to three nuclear facilities in two
States and to 16 facilities housing other radioactive material in five States.
In addition, also upon States’ request, 36 vulnerable highly active radioactive
sources with a total activity of 173 TBq (4700 Ci) were removed from four
countries. It further continued its long-standing support to States’ activities
aimed at reducing the vulnerability of highly enriched uranium (HEU) to theft
and unauthorized removal. A regional workshop on the Russian Research
Reactor Fuel Return Program was organized in the United States and three
technical meetings on the conversion of research reactors from HEU to
low-enriched uranium took place throughout the year. In addition, the tripartite
contract between the IAEA, the United States and the Russian Federation was
signed for shipments of fresh HEU from Ukraine in 2012.
Export controls
Nuclear Suppliers Group
From 23 to 24 June the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) held its twentyfirst
plenary meeting in Noordwijk, Netherlands. During the plenary, the