Nuclear safeguards are measures to verify that countries comply with international obligations not to use nuclear materials (uranium, plutonium and thorium) from civil nuclear programmes for non-peaceful purposes.
ONR is the UK’s safeguards regulator, and forms part of the UK State System of Accounting for, and Control of, Nuclear Materials.
The inspectors within our Safeguards specialism are responsible for the operation of the domestic nuclear safeguards regime. This involves assessing and inspecting dutyholder arrangements, procedures and records relating to nuclear material accountancy.
Inspectors in this specialism also assess and inspect dutyholders safeguards-relevant design information of nuclear facilities, and accountancy and control plans to regulate compliance against Nuclear Safeguards (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.
Our inspectors in this specialism are also responsible for ensuring that we enable the UK to meet its international safeguards obligations with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and other international partners.
The Safeguards specialism provides expert regulatory advice and guidance to government and is represented on a number of international forums and working groups. This includes the European Safeguards Research and Development Association, the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management and IAEA consultancy groups.
The specialism covers the following issues at these international forums:
- Safeguards by design;
- Implementation of safeguards;
- Training and knowledge management for safeguards;
- Development of an international safeguards practitioners certification;
- Material balance evaluation; and
- Safeguards considerations for geological disposal.