Reducing reliance on highly enriched uranium a priority, summit hears

Experts convened in Amsterdam for two days before the Nuclear Security Summit to discuss ways to boost nuclear security.

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THE HAGUE // Removing highly enriched uranium from civilian reactors, cyber threats and strengthening global security have topped the agenda at the Nuclear Industry Summit.

“The industry varies enormously in size and complexity and the materials it uses, but we agreed on a set of principles that will help direct government arrangements for nuclear security,” said Roger Howsley, the executive director of the World Institute for Nuclear Security.

“One thing that NGOs push all the time is that security is a difficult area where you have to work out the balance between transparency and confidentiality.

“I don’t think we’ve got it right at the moment but the NGO community is saying that we have to do a lot more to instil confidence in people by saying more about what’s done.”

Mr Howsley said there were no expectations of security details being made available, but much more could be done in terms of improving corporate governance.

“That’s one key objective,” he said. “Another is that we need people who are in senior management positions to be demonstratively competent.”

The industry experts convened in Amsterdam before the Nuclear Security Summit.

They finished the preparations done by three working groups under the guidance of an international advisory panel.

Duncan Hawthorne, president and chief executive of Bruce Power, which operates a nuclear plant in Canada, said there had to be more improvement on nuclear security and governance.

“It’s important that when new countries enter into nuclear power, they do so with strong support and guidance,” Mr Hawthorne said.

“One of they key things is the ability to do views of each other’s performance in a way that participants feel they can learn from each other.”

Removing highly enriched uranium from all civilian nuclear reactors was another issue that needed attention, experts said.

“Historically, reactors were powered by highly enriched uranium, which is a material of concern,” said Adrian Paterson, chief executive of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation.

“There is still a journey to be walked but it is a very important issue that needs global cooperation.”

Mr Paterson mentioned the use of highly enriched uranium for the production of nuclear medicine.

“A number of countries said they would move to lower-enriched uranium,” he said.

“We’re encouraged by the progress, but we still believe it’s important to discuss it on a regular basis and to make sure the people involved in nuclear medicine continue to be on this journey to completely eliminate highly enriched uranium used in research reactors.”

Building trust for the industry was also vital, Mr Paterson said.

“Public assurance about the security of radioactive sources and the elimination of highly enriched uranium is something we are all passionate about,” he said.

“I think the transparency is increasing and so is the change of pace, and I think the results are good.”

Mr Howsley said the industry needed to develop an attitude of security around reactors.

“Regulators are expected by governments to try and frame the level of their threat,” he said.

“But it’s probably the operators who are liable to what happens after, so if they get it wrong they’re held liable.

“The biggest challenge is moving ahead and I think we can do better.”

The Nuclear Industry Summit was held in Amsterdam on Sunday and Monday.