Czech Republic Support Programme to The IAEA Safeguards Efforts

The Czech Republic always considered the IAEA safeguards system to be one of the most significant instruments, playing an important role in the field of Nuclear Non – Proliferation. State Office for Nuclear Safety (SÚJB) decided to support the Agency’s efforts in field of safeguards and launched our participation in the Member States Support Programme to the IAEA Safeguards at the end of 2002.

It is important to state that the Czech Republic was the third state (after the USA and Great Britain) and the first non-nuclear state, which committed to provide support to the IAEA Member States Support Programs.

Notwithstanding relatively short period of duration of the Czech Support Programme, the SÚJB is involved in number of active Tasks. Nowadays the SÚJB, as a competent authority of the Czech Republic, is involved in 12 active Tasks in cooperation with the Nuclear Power Plants Dukovany and Temelin, Mining – Milling Facility DIAMO and the Nuclear Research Institute in Řež (NRI Řež).

The SÚJB, in accordance with this program and in cooperation with the IAEA, organized the seventh training course of IAEA safeguards inspectors at Dukovany NPP, facilitated participation of the Central analytical laboratory of NRI Řež in the process of assessment and control of quality of services provided for IAEA networks of world laboratories in the area of nuclear materials analyses, participation of Dukovany NPP in the program of testing new IAEA surveillance systems developed for verification of nuclear materials in the interim spent fuel storage facilities and intensively participated in the development of the new IAEA safeguards system for final disposals of spent fuel. 

An important step within the IAEA Member States Support Programs was a positive response of the Czech Republic to the invitation of the IAEA DG for support of the IAEA Safeguards Information System Re-engineering Project (IRP), which has currently had the highest priority. A part of the support of this project is both the financial support and the commitment of consequent testing of new IAEA verification systems. 

 The SÚJB is also prepared to continue in contributions of expert services mostly in the areas of testing NDA safeguards equipment, analytical services and training for inspectors or other Agency staff.

Member States Support Programme to the Agency remains and will also represent in the mid term future a key component for further development of the IAEA safeguards system. It is more and more considered as a platform for exchange of information, experience and know-how on multilateral basis. SÚJB very much welcomes the involvement of and synergy with other participating Member States established so far, which should be however further strengthened.