ISS Today: International nuclear security: why Africa must make its voice heard

Of the 53 countries invited to participate in the 2014 Nuclear Security Summit that is taking place in The Hague today and tomorrow, six are from Africa. This is a sure sign that Africa’s role in the future of international nuclear security remains crucial. Given the increase in nuclear-related activities taking place in Africa, this is a critical time for the continent to ensure that its voice is heard.

The first summit took place in Washington, DC in 2010, and was followed by the 2012 summit in Seoul, South Korea. These summits focus on measures to secure nuclear material to prevent such material from being used in acts of terrorism.

Press Release: Nuclear security in the global spotlight

Pretoria, South Africa – The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) is one of only a few non-governmental organisations that will participate in the high-level international meetings hosted by The Netherlands this week on global nuclear security.

The most significant of the meetings being held is the 2014 Nuclear Security Summit, which will take place in The Hague from 24 – 25 March. This summit is the third in a series that focuses on how to secure nuclear material and prevent such material from being used in acts of terrorism. Of the 53 heads of state and government, six African states are taking part in this year’s summit.

‘Africa’s role in the future of global nuclear security is crucial. This is a critical time for the continent to ensure its voice is heard,’ says Amelia Broodryk, Senior Researcher at the Transnational Threats and International Crime Division of the ISS.

Among the issues to be discussed are ways in which stockpiles of hazardous nuclear material can be reduced, how nuclear material can be secured, how nuclear facilities and radioactive sources can be improved, and how international cooperation in the field of nuclear security can be enhanced.

The summit features three official side events – the Nuclear Industry Summit, the @tomic 2014 International tabletop exercise, and the Nuclear Knowledge Summit, organised by the Clingendael Institute, the Fissile Materials Working Group (FMWG) and The Asan Institute for Policy Studies.

The ISS will take part in the Nuclear Knowledge Summit from 21 – 22 March in Amsterdam as an international partner of the FMWG. The FMWG is a non-governmental coalition of over 70 international organisations that are committed to improving fissile material security by developing policy proposals, and advocating for governments to adopt and implement improved policies.

Along with the issues covered during the main summit, the Nuclear Knowledge Summit will also focus on cyber security, non-civilian nuclear stockpiles as well as national management of nuclear and radiological material.

The ISS will provide an African view of nuclear security, which is explained in the latest ISS policy brief, Africa’s engagement with the international nuclear security framework, by Amelia Broodryk and Shaun Edge. ‘Most important for Africa is the development of a continental nuclear security framework,’ explains Broodryk. ‘This would ensure the highest levels of nuclear safety and security, without inhibiting the peaceful use of nuclear technology.’

For more information and updates, contact the following ISS experts:
Amelia Broodryk, Senior Researcher, Transnational Threats and International Crime Division, ISS Pretoria: +27 12 346 9500, abroodryk@issafrica.org
Noël Stott, Senior Research Fellow, Transnational Threats and International Crime Division, ISS Pretoria: nstott@issafrica.org

Or follow the debate on Twitter:

Institute for Security Studies: @issafrica
Fissile Material Working Group: @fmwg
Nuclear Security Summit 2014: @NSS2014
Nuclear Knowledge Summit: @knowledgesummit

29 November: Navigating nuclear traffic

Amelia Broodryk, Senior Researcher, Transnational Threats and International Crime Division, ISS Pretoria

The seizure of a kilogram of uranium and 90 ecstasy tablets in Durban, South Africa on 14 November presents an intriguing illicit trafficking case. A joint operation between the Durban Organised Crime Unit, Crime Intelligence, the Department of Minerals and the Department of Energy resulted in the arrest of two men in their early 20s, who now face charges of being in possession of drugs and uranium. Incidents of uranium smuggling are very rare, and this is one of only five confirmed seizures of smuggled uranium in South Africa in the past 20 years.

ISS TODAY: New approaches to nuclear weapon disarmament

Tuesday 16 July marked the anniversary of the first nuclear weapon test carried out by the United States (US) in southern New Mexico in 1945. Between then and September 1992, the US tested 1 030 nuclear weapons – all conducted by the Los Alamos National Laboratory. However, despite President Barack Obama declaring in a speech on 19 June in Berlin that ‘so long as nuclear weapons exist, we are not truly safe’, and his announcement that he intends to seek further bilateral nuclear weapons reductions with Russia, the US’ National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) plans to extend the service life of 400 B61 bombs with an estimated cost of $10 billion, or $25 million per bomb. The B61 is the only US nuclear weapon in Europe, with about 180 stored in five NATO countries.

International Conference on Nuclear Security: Enhancing Global Efforts

From 1 - 5 July the IAEA is convening an International Conference on Nuclear Security in Vienna, Austria. This conference not only provides a timely global forum in which the progress made in strengthening nuclear security worldwide can be reviewed and future developments discussed, but its results will also serve as important input in the preparation of the IAEA’s next Nuclear Security Plan, for 2014–2017.

For more details of the conference, click on the relevant links below:

• Ministerial Declaration NEW
• Conference Statements NEW
• IAEA Imagebank NEW
• Final Programme NEW

African participation in the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit

From 26 - 27 March 2012, 53[1] heads of state and government, as well as representatives of the United Nations (UN), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), European Union (EU) and INTERPOL attended the Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul, South Korea.

Six African countries participated in the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit - Algeria, Egypt, Gabon, Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa.

Highlights of Achievements and Commitments by Participating African Countries as Stated in National Progress Reports include:

• Algeria: indicated its intention to join the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT), updating its domestic regulations to strengthen nuclear security and established a Nuclear Security Training and Support Center in 2011
• Gabon: Enacting a new Bill on the Regulatory Framework of Nuclear and Radiation Safety, Security and Safeguards; establishing the Gabonese Agency on Nuclear Safety and Security
• Morocco: Ratifying 2005 CPPNM; enhancing border control and national capacity to detect illicit trafficking; legislating a new law on nuclear and radiological safety and security
• Nigeria: Converting a miniature research reactor from using HEU fuel to LEU fuel in cooperation with China, the US and the IAEA; ratifying ICSANT; passing the Nuclear Safety, Security and Safeguards Bill to domesticate international treaties
• South Africa: Considering converting HEU to LEU; ratifying 2005 CPPNM Amendment; considering establishing a Center of Excellence jointly with the IAEA.

The key outcome of the Summit is the Seoul Communiqué, which builds on the objectives and measures set out in the 2010 Washington Communiqué to identify 11 areas of priority and importance in nuclear security and presents specific actions in each area. The 11 areas are: the global nuclear security architecture; the role of the IAEA; nuclear materials; radioactive sources; nuclear security and safety; transportation security; combating illicit trafficking; nuclear forensics; nuclear security culture; information security; and international cooperation.[2]

All documents related to the Nuclear Security Summit can be found HERE

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Notes

[1] Republic of Korea(Chair), Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, and Viet Nam
[2] The Seoul Nuclear Security Summit Preparatory Secretariat, "Key Facts on the 2012 Seoul Nuclear Security Summit", 27 March 2012

Africa, Nuclear Security and the 2012 Summit

by Scott Firsing

Many hold a view that the terms Africa and nuclear security have no correlation. This is a false and dangerous perception.

South Africa’s Energy Minister Dipuo Peters announced on Tuesday 28 February 2012 that the country plans to use nuclear energy as part of diversified mix to help cure South Africa’s energy crisis and to take a step closer to cleaner energy. The plan – called the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP2010) – places specific emphasis on various technologies including gas, imports, nuclear, biomass, renewables (wind, solar and hydro).

As it stands, about 90% of South Africa’s energy, like most African countries, is produced from burning coal, which in turn has a negative impact on the world’s climate. And like South Africa, most African countries are looking towards nuclear power as a potential alternative to fossil fuels. South Africa’s Koeberg nuclear power station, located 30km north of Cape Town, is the only nuclear power station in South Africa and the entire African continent. However, this will change in the coming years/decades.

Nuclear Security: More than Guns, Guards and Gates

Participants of the experts' workshop on
'Progress on Securing Africa's Nuclear Resources'

Amelia Broodryk, Researcher, Transnational Threats and International Crime Division, ISS Pretoria

The security of nuclear and other radioactive material and associated technologies will again be in the spotlight from 27 - 27 March 2012 at the second Nuclear Security Summit taking place in Seoul, South Korea. The summit is a follow-on meeting to the 2010 Washington Nuclear Security Summit and is one of many nuclear security-related initiatives that have emerged in the last five years focusing specifically on the challenges of securing nuclear materials, as well as the threat of nuclear terrorism.

Preparing for the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit

In preparation for the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit, a website has been set up as a way to keep delegates and other interested parties informed about the meeting. The website also provides readers with some background information on nuclear security and the 2010 Nuclear Security Summit.

Resources on the website include a recent blog post by Laura Holgate on planning for the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit.

For a perspective on Africa's potential role in the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit, read Issue 8 of Africa's Policy Imperatives.

South Africa Ships HEU Back to U.S.

SAFARI-1 research reactor
Source: www.necsa.co.za

South Africa has sent 13.8 pounds of used weapon-grade uranium back to the United States, the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration announced on Wednesday (see GSN, June 9).

The semiautonomous branch of the Energy Department worked with the South African Nuclear Energy Corp. [Nesca] to repatriate the spent U.S.-origin highly enriched uranium fuel that had been used at a nuclear research site.

“With this return, we have taken another important step in the global effort to minimize the use of HEU around the world, a vital part of implementing President Obama’s nuclear security agenda,” NNSA Deputy Administrator Anne Harrington said in released remarks. “The completion of this project is another example of the close partnership between NNSA and the South African Nuclear Energy Corp., and the significant technical expertise and professionalism of Necsa were key factors in the success of the operation.”

The material reached the United States on Tuesday and is going into "secure storage pending disposition," according to an NNSA press release.

The nuclear agency has supported withdrawal of 2,754 pounds of U.S.-made highly enriched uranium from facilities across the globe. In total, it has supported the extraction or management of 6,814 pounds of uranium and plutonium that could be used in nuclear weapons, the release states.

South Africa and the United States have collaborated for years on reducing reliance on highly enriched uranium for civilian activities. Last year, the South African nuclear agency received as much as $25 million for a program to promote production of a key medical isotope through use of proliferation-resistant low-enriched uranium rather than highly enriched material (U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration release, Aug. 17).

Source: http://www.globalsecuritynewswire.org/gsn/nw_20110817_7697.php

Africa's Policy Imperatives: Issue 8

Issue 8 of ‘Africa’s Policy Imperatives’ focuses on the potential role that Africa can play in the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit. It is an edited and enhanced version of a food for thought paper presented at a diplomatic luncheon hosted by the British High Commission in Pretoria.

Previous editions provided general overviews (and updates) of Africa’s participation in international efforts to strengthen disarmament and non-proliferation through a number of conventions, protocols and agreements, including the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), its adherence in Africa and the potential benefits that Africa can derive from the work of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO); recent developments in the implementation of the Treaty of Pelindaba; and, on ways to enhance the role of the OPCW in building Africa’s capacity to prevent the misuse of toxic chemicals.

This Issue has been compiled as a result of research undertaken since 2007 by the Norwegian and British-funded ISS’ “Africa’s Development and the Threat of Weapons of Mass Destruction Project”. This project aims to identify and strengthen Africa’s role in these international efforts in the context of the continent’s developmental imperatives.

Radiation Scanning Gear Operating in Djibouti

Djibouti and the United States on Wednesday formally marked the deployment of equipment in the African state to scan shipping containers for smuggled nuclear and radiological material, the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration announced (see GSN, Dec. 11, 2008).

The system entered use at the Port of Djibouti in March, and the nation's coast guard is handling any alert raised by the equipment.

"Our partnership at the Port of Djibouti underscores a continued, shared commitment to combating the illicit trafficking of nuclear and other radioactive material,” NNSA Deputy Administrator Anne Harrington said in a statement. “With the commissioning of radiation detection equipment at this port, we have increased the level of nuclear security at one of the major shipping points in the Horn of Africa, bringing us one step closer to implementing President Obama’s nuclear security agenda.”

The National Nuclear Security Administration in 2009 began efforts to install detection technology at the port, to educate local authorities in its use, and to inform port managers of the possible threats posed by nuclear and radiological substances.

The semiautonomous Energy Department agency has now deployed radiation detection technology at 36 "Megaports" across the globe. The effort is part of the U.S. Second Line of Defense program, which helps improve detection capabilities for nuclear and radiological materials at foreign seaports, airports and border checkpoints (U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration release, July 6).

Source: http://www.globalsecuritynewswire.org/gsn/nw_20110706_9874.php

New Publication: Securing Africa's Nuclear Resources

From 1 - 2 February 2011, the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), with support from the British High Commission in South Africa, hosted an experts workshop on ‘Securing Africa’s Nuclear Resources’, bringing together a range of African stakeholders including officials from various South African government departments, African national nuclear regulators, power plants, atomic energy commissions and radiation protection authorities, the Africa Regional Co-operative Agreement for Research, Development and Training related to Nuclear Science and Technology (AFRA), the African Union (AU), and the Forum of Nuclear Regulatory Bodies in Africa (FNRBA).

The findings of this workshop and the nuclear security research undertaken by the WMD Project are included in the comprehensive publication entitled 'Securing Africa's Nuclear Resources'.

Click HERE for the electronic version.