ASNO Annual Report 2010-2011
Inventory verification inspections carried out by the IAEA at Australian nuclear facilities and locations are shown in Table 7. In addition, the Agency carries out a range of other verification activities, such as short notice inspections, complementary accesses, design verifications and increased data collection and analysis.
The IAEA provides statements of conclusions of inspections under Article 91(b) of Australia's NPT Safeguards Agreement. Table 21 summarises the latest available Article 91(b) statements arising from physical inventory inspections.
Table 21: IAEA Conclusions of Inspections in Australia
Verification Activity |
Applicable Facilities | End Date of Material Balance Period | Conclusion |
---|---|---|---|
Examination of records | OPAL R&D Laboratories |
24/03/2011 22/03/2011 |
'The records satisfied the Agency requirements.' |
Examination of Reports to the Agency | OPAL R&D Laboratories |
24/03/2011 22/03/2011 |
'The reports satisfied the Agency requirements.' |
Verification of Domestic and International Transfers | OPAL | 24/03/2011 | 'The domestic and international transfers declared by the operator were verified and the results satisfied the Agency requirements.' |
Verification of Physical Inventory | OPAL R&D Laboratories |
24/03/2011 22/03/2011 |
'The physical inventory declared by the operator was verified and the results satisfied the Agency requirements.' |
Confirmation of the Absence of Unrecorded Production of Direct-Use Material from Material Subject to Safeguards | OPAL | 24/03/2011 | 'The absence of unrecorded production of plutonium from nuclear material subject to safeguards was confirmed by the Agency in accordance with its requirements.' |
Verification Activities for Timely Detection | OPAL R&D Laboratories |
24/03/2011 22/03/2011 |
The verification activities for timely detection during the material balance period satisfied the Agency requirements.' |
The IAEA provides statements of conclusions for states in which strengthened safeguards are in force. These statements are provided under Article 10.c. of the Additional Protocol to Australia's NPT Safeguards Agreement. The Statement for 2010 concluded as follows:
Access pursuant to Article 4.a.(i) did not indicate the presence of undeclared nuclear material or activities at the following sites:
- Olympic Dam Mine, South Australia - AS-2010/001
- Lucas Heights Science & Technology Centre, Building 21 and Hut 36 - AS-2010/002
- Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Victoria - AS-2010/003.