Material Safeguards and Accountability in the Low Enriched Uranium Conversion-Fabrication Sector of the Fuel Cycle

Today materials accounting in the low enriched conversion-fabrication sector of the LWR fuel cycle is of increased importance. Low enriched uranium is rapidly becoming a precious metal with current dollar values in the range of one dollar per gram comparing with gold and platinum at 7-8 dollars per gram. In fact, people argue that its dollar value exceeds its safeguards value. Along with this increased financial incentive for better material control, the nuclear industry is faced with the impending implementation of international safeguards and increased public attention over its ability to control nuclear materials. Although no quantity of low enriched uranium (LEU) constitutes a practical nuclear explosive, its control is important to international safeguards because of potential misuse by a national capability via plutonium production or further enrichment to an explosive grade material. Our purpose is to examine and discuss some factors in the area of materials safeguards and accountability as they apply to the low enriched uranium conversion-fabrication sector. The paper treats four main topics: (1) basis for materials accounting; (2) our assessment of the proposed new IAEA requirements; (3) adequacy of current practices; and (4) timing and direction of future modifications.