Analyzing Information On Nuclear-Related Trade, Industrial Capabilities And Technical Assistance In The Context Of Safeguards Implementation And State Evaluation

The analysis of information on a State’s nuclear-related trade, industrial capabilities and received technical assistance contributes to the State Evaluation process as well as Safeguards Implementation under the State-Level Concept, and is an important part of the completeness assessment of the State’s declarations under its Safeguards Agreement. The article discusses the main sources of such information, the collection and analysis approach in the context of State Evaluation, including the process of comparing and contrasting with information declared by the State. In addition, the results of such analysis combined with the State’s declarations constitute the basis of the assessment of the State’s nuclear fuel cycle (NFC) capabilities and the time required to complete NFC steps along Pu and/or HEU acquisition paths. It has a direct impact on the assessed time to complete an acquisition path, and thus influences the type, intensity and frequency of safeguards activities at HQ and in the field.