PLUTONIUM SAFEGUARDS WITHIN THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY

Based on the present structure and the plans of the nuclear industry in the European Community it is expected that the use of Plutonium in the civil nuclear fuel cycle will continue to increase. Three major rprocessing plants with throughputs of up to 7 t Pu/a will be on stream In the early 90' ies and at least one futher HOX fabrication facility to produce LWR fuel for routine use. Conclusive safeguards of the nuclear material at these rather complex facilities is a requirement of European lam and the development and implementation of effective safeguards approaches presents a major challenge to Euratom during the 1990ies. The following contribution outlines those safeguards approaches presently under development and implementation for LWR (Uox) reactors, UOX fabrication and reprocessing plants.