Nuclear Security News and Member Updates Roundup, April 2023

Dear Friend,

Our April round up of nuclear security-related news stories once again features continued fear of military action around Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (ZNPP), even as International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) monitors see evidence that Russia may be preparing to repair a damaged power line connecting ZNPP to territory that Russia controls.  The United States Department of Energy has also warned Russia not to touch sensitive export-controlled U.S. technology at ZNPP. In other news, the IAEA has released its 2022 annual fact sheet on nuclear incidents reported to the International Trafficking Database (ITDB), finding a level of reported incidents comparable to recent years.  Our collection of headlines also features several reflecting unease over the potential misuse of artificial intelligence in connection with nuclear security.  We invite you to read these and many more below, along with updates on member activities. Finally, don’t forget to submit to our forthcoming 2023 second edition of the Catalogue of Civil Society Activities to Support Nuclear Security project or research work you and your organizations have done over the past two years.  See link in first entry below under Updates. 

Christina

Interim Director, International Nuclear Security Forum

Join the conversation on Twitter: @INS_Forum

Updates

• The International Nuclear Security Forum is opening submissions for the Second Edition of the Catalogue of Civil Society Activities to Strengthen Nuclear Security. The first edition, published in 2021, was well-received by the IAEA, state representatives, and Forum members. To continue producing this resource, we kindly ask that INSF members, on behalf of their organizations, fill out the survey to share their activities for the forthcoming 2023 publication. Fill out the form.
  • Want to learn more? The 2021 Catalogue of Civil Society Activities to Strengthen Nuclear Security is available online. Explore here. 

Nuclear Security News

Impact: The Russian Invasion of Ukraine

• Military Action in Ukraine Ends IAEA Plan to Secure Nuclear Zone: “The rising probability of military action near a Russian-occupied nuclear plant in Ukraine is forcing international monitors to shelve a proposed security zone around the site and instead concentrate on making its reactors more resilient to attack. There are signals that new fighting may break out soon near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station, International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said… Grossi crossed the battle line separating Ukrainian and Russian forces to bring a new rotation of monitors into Europe’s biggest nuclear power plant. ‘There is a significant increase of troops in the region,’ he said. ‘There is open talk of offensives and counteroffensives.’ That threat is prompting the IAEA to focus now on protecting Zaporizhzhia’s six reactors, Grossi said. The Vienna-based agency’s earlier plan to erect a security perimeter around the facility was shelved after months of diplomacy between Kyiv and Moscow failed. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told Grossi the initiative was doomed to fail as long as Russian forces remained at the facility.”
• Ukrainian Drone Crashes Near Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant – Russian Media: “A Ukrainian drone has crashed near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Russia’s RIA news agency cited a Russian officer as saying…as the chief of the global nuclear watchdog was expected in Russia for talks on the plant’s security. International Atomic Energy Agency head Rafael Grossi was due to travel to Russia’s Kaliningrad region…a week after visiting the Zaporizhzhia facility in southern Ukraine, which is controlled by Russian forces. According to the Russian military officer cited by RIA, a Polish-made drone weighing more than 2 kg (4.4 pounds) had crashed near the plant. The news agency did not say when. Grossi has been pushing for a demilitarised zone around Europe’s largest nuclear facility, which has come under repeated shelling, with Russia and Ukraine have blamed on each other.”
• Update 154 — IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine: “International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts present at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) have heard shelling almost every day over the past week and at one point were told to shelter at the site because of the potential dangers caused by continued military activity in the region, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said…“I saw clear indications of military preparations in the area when I visited the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant just over three weeks ago. Since then, our experts at the site have frequently reported about hearing detonations, at times suggesting intense shelling not far from the site. I’m deeply concerned about the situation at the plant,” he said…Adding to the nuclear safety and security risks, the ZNPP continues to rely on the only remaining functioning 750 kilovolt (kV) power line for the external electricity it needs for reactors cooling and other essential nuclear safety and security functions. Before the conflict, the plant had four such off-site power lines available.”
• Nuclear Powers Pledge to Push Putin Out of Uranium Markets: “Nuclear powers within the Group of Seven nations pledged to end Russia’s dominance over global atomic-fuel markets, potentially cutting off a critical source of geopolitical currency for Russian President Vladimir Putin more than a year after his invasion of Ukraine. Canada, France, Japan, the UK and US committed…to jointly dislodge Russia from global nuclear supply chains. Even amid Western sanctions over the war, the Kremlin’s state-owned nuclear giant, Rosatom Corp., has remained the world’s biggest exporter of reactors and fuel. ‘This agreement will be used as the basis for pushing Putin out of the nuclear fuel market entirely, and doing so as quickly as possible,’ according to a statement from UK Energy Secretary Grant Shapps. The commitment took shape at a nuclear-industry conference convened on the sidelines of the G-7 meeting in the Japanese city of Sapporo. The US and its European allies have been weighing tough sanctions targeting Russia’s nuclear sector for more than a year but have struggled to strike an agreement. The concern is that shutting off their own nuclear industries from Russian supplies would be too economically painful. Rosatom provided about a quarter of the enriched uranium needed for the 92 reactors in the US in 2021. In Europe, utilities that generate power for countries with about 100 million inhabitants still rely on the company.”
• Russia Fixing Power Line From Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant to Land it Controls, IAEA Says: “Russia has informed the U.N. nuclear watchdog that equipment spotted at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which Russia controls, will be used to fix a power transmission line that leads to Russian-held territory, the watchdog said…The planned restoration of the downed power line could heighten Ukrainian fears that Russia is preparing to connect Zaporizhzhia, Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, to the power grid of territory that it controls. A small number of International Atomic Energy Agency officials are present at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (ZNPP), which is operated by Ukrainian staff working under the orders of Russian forces and the Russian nuclear company Rosatom. “The (IAEA) Team observed, and following questions were subsequently informed, that a large piece of equipment being transported into the turbine hall of Unit 3 was a transformer to replace the damaged ‘Kakhovka’ node in the ZNPP open switchyard,” the IAEA said in a statement. “The Kakhovka line is one of the four 750 kV (kilovolt) lines that were operational before the military conflict. This line is linked to the currently Russian-controlled electrical grid, to the south of the ZNPP site,” it added. Only one of those four power lines is currently working and is the only source of external power to the plant, which it needs to keep cooling the fuel in its six reactors even though they are shut down. Failing to cool that fuel could lead to a potentially catastrophic nuclear meltdown.”

International Architecture

• IAEA Releases Annual Data on Illicit Trafficking of Nuclear and Other Radioactive Material: “A total of 146 incidents of illegal or unauthorized activities involving nuclear and other radioactive material were reported in 2022, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said today in an annual fact sheet summarizing data from the IAEA Incident and Trafficking Database (ITDB). The numbers, which include some incidents connected to illicit trafficking or malicious use, remained at around the same levels as in recent years…In five of the 146 incidents reported in 2022, there was sufficient information to determine that they related to trafficking or malicious use. Three of these five incidents involved scams. The material involved in the two other trafficking-related incidents was seized by the relevant competent authorities within the reporting States…Additionally, trends from the ITDB show that thefts occurring during the transportation of nuclear or radioactive material stand at almost 52% of all reported cases since 1993. The figure has reached almost 62% for the preceding ten-year period, highlighting the ongoing importance of strengthening transport security measures.”
• IAEA Mission Says Viet Nam is Committed to Nuclear Security, Encourages Further Strengthening of the National Nuclear Security Regime: “An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team concluded an International Security Advisory Mission (INSServ) to Viet Nam…The team said the country has made progress towards establishing an effective national nuclear security regime for nuclear or other radioactive material out of regulatory control. It encouraged Vietnamese authorities to further integrate existing systems and measures into a national nuclear security policy. The mission — the first of this kind to Viet Nam — was conducted at the request of the Government and hosted by the Viet Nam Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety (VARANS) from 19 to 31 March.”
• IAEA Assists Countries in Enhancing Nuclear Forensics Technical Capabilities: “At a recent training course organized by the IAEA in the United States, nuclear forensics practitioners from eleven countries learned a range of skills, from how to effectively handle and collect evidence during the early phase of forensics examination, to the careful use of different analysis techniques. Nuclear forensics is the examination of nuclear or other radioactive material, or of evidence that is contaminated with radionuclides, in the context of legal proceedings under international or national law related to nuclear security. It involves experts that come from a wide variety of scientific disciplines including analytical chemistry, geochemistry and nuclear physics. ‘The IAEA systematically assists countries in developing their technical capabilities through activities designed to ensure thorough, hands-on opportunities to exercise the key analytical techniques and approaches of a nuclear forensic examination,’ said Elena Buglova, Director of the IAEA Division of Nuclear Security.”
• New Member Finland to Take Part in NATO’s Nuclear Planning: “NATO’s new member Finland will participate in the Western military alliance’s nuclear planning and support operations, the Finnish defence ministry said…although it has decided not to allow any nuclear arms on its soil. In a historic security policy U-turn after decades of military non-alignment, Finland became NATO’s 31st member on April 4, responding to neighbouring Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. When joining, the Finnish government decided Finland would not permit the stationing of nuclear weapons on its territory but did not set other restrictions for the Nordic country’s membership… ‘Nuclear weapons have a very central role in the deterrence and defence built by NATO. We, too, will enjoy the protection from them and therefore it is a positive matter for Finland to participate in full in different ways and by no means shut itself out of it,’ [Director General for Defence Policy Janne] Kuusela said…‘These activities are led by the nuclear powers,’ Kuusela said, referring to the United States and Britain, which both have their own nuclear arsenal and who lead the work of NATO’s nuclear planning group.”
• Kazakhstan and IAEA Strengthen Cooperation in Nuclear Technology and Applications: “The Republic of Kazakhstan and the IAEA have agreed to strengthen collaboration in the peaceful applications of nuclear science and technology, following IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi’s visit to the country… Mr Grossi met with Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and senior leaders in the country, and visited the world’s only Low Enriched Uranium (LEU) Bank—a physical reserve of LEU for eligible IAEA Member States in case the supply of LEU to a nuclear power plant is disrupted due to exceptional circumstances that disable the securing of the fuel from the commercial market or any other supply arrangement. The LEU Bank is located in Oskemen in Kazakhstan, and is owned and controlled by the IAEA….During his visit, Mr Grossi met with Minister of Energy, Almasadam Satkaliyev, with whom he signed Kazakhstan’s Country Programme Framework 2023-2028, to ensure closer interaction between the Agency and Kazakhstan in areas related to the development of nuclear power infrastructure, nuclear and radiation safety, food security and nuclear medicine. Country Programme Frameworks are mutually agreed priority development needs and interests between the IAEA and individual countries, to be supported through technical cooperation activities.”

Weapons, Materials, and Facilities  

• Germany Criticizes Russian Role in French Nuclear Fuel Plant: “German officials have criticized plans by French firm Framatome to produce nuclear fuel in a joint venture with Russia’s Rosatom at a facility in western Germany, and said…they will consider whether an application to do so can be rejected. Officials in the state of Lower Saxony have received a request for the Framatome-owned ANF facility in Lingen, near the German-Dutch border, to be allowed to produce hexagonal fuel rod arrangements used in Soviet-designed water-water energetic reactors. Such reactors, known by the Russian acronym VVER, are common in Eastern Europe and the fuel production would take place under license from state-owned Rosatom. ‘Doing business with (Russian President) Putin must stop, and that also and especially applies to the nuclear sector,’ Lower Saxony’s Energy Minister Christian Meyer said. He added that it would be wrong to cement the nuclear industry’s dependence on Russia through a direct or indirect involvement of Rosatom at the Lingen facility ‘in view of Putin’s brutal energy war against Europe.’”
• Upcoming IAEA Conference on Computer Security: Addressing Security For Safety: “The growing range and number of cyber threats means that there is no single facility immune to cyber-attacks. In the case of nuclear installations and radiological facilities, computer-controlled systems are extensively used to support their core functions and operations. Information and computer security, therefore, are an essential part of nuclear security measures, along with physical protection, both for nuclear facilities and nuclear or other radioactive material facilities. ‘The heightened awareness of cyber threats urges for further investment of resources towards improving computer security for nuclear security,’ said Elena Buglova, Director of the IAEA’s Division of Nuclear Security. The IAEA offers countries assistance in addressing their needs in the area of computer security. In 2022, the IAEA organized 46 computer security-related events, an increase of 28 per cent from 2021, with a focus on national-level support for computer security regulations and inspections, and computer security exercises. The IAEA is holding an International Conference on Computer Security in a Nuclear World: Security for Safety, from 19 to 23 June 2023 in Vienna, Austria, bringing together the international community to discuss developments and progress in protecting nuclear and other radioactive material activities against cyber-attacks.”
• North Korean Nuclear Weapons Arsenal: New Estimates of its Size and Configuration: “North Korea keeps secret the number of nuclear weapons that it has built or deployed. As a result, the Institute [for Science and International Security] periodically estimates the number of nuclear weapons North Korea possesses. With North Korea’s growing sophistication in building nuclear weapons, the estimates must also become more sophisticated as well. However, due to a lack of information about North Korea’s nuclear weapons production complex, all of these estimates have relatively large uncertainties. These estimates depend on evaluating North Korea’s production of plutonium and weapon-grade uranium (WGU), another closely guarded secret. The production of these key materials can be assessed through commercial satellite observations, prior North Korean declarations, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reports, intelligence agencies’ reporting, reports from on-site visits and interviews, and extensive information about North Korea’s procurement for its key nuclear activities involved in enriching uranium and producing plutonium. Over three decades, the Institute has accumulated a large repository of such information, allowing for the current estimates of North Korea’s stocks of WGU and plutonium.”
• US Nuclear Weapons Modernization Plan Spurs Cost Questions: …The National Nuclear Security Administration released its annual plan on Monday, outlining the multibillion-dollar effort to manufacture plutonium pits, the spherical cores that trigger the explosion in thermonuclear weapons, at national laboratories in New Mexico and South Carolina. The Savannah River Site in South Carolina faces a 2030 deadline to make 50 pits per year. Officials already have acknowledged they won’t meet that timeline, and this year’s report no longer includes a target date for Los Alamos National Laboratory, in New Mexico, to meet its goal of 30 pits per year…The top priority continues to be restarting production activities given the world’s deteriorating security environment, Jill Hruby, head of the nuclear agency, recently told a congressional subcommittee. She pointed to Russia’s development of new nuclear weapon delivery systems, China’s growing capabilities, and destabilization in North Korea and Iran. The NNSA is undertaking what Hruby described as a once-in-a-several-generation opportunity to reform and modernize the nation’s nuclear enterprise. She acknowledged challenges when it comes to construction projects, supply chain delays, worker shortages and higher-than-expected inflation. ‘We must adjust our cost estimates, delay starting additional large projects, and find innovative ways to successfully deliver,’ she said.
• First Fuel Delivered to Turkey’s Akkuyu NPP: “A ceremony marking the delivery of the first batch of nuclear fuel for Türkiye’s Akkuyu NPP has taken place at the construction site. This event officially signals the entry of the Republic of Türkiye into the community of countries developing nuclear generation technologies on their territory. Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended by video conference. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, Turkish Minister of Energy & Natural Resources Fatih Dönmez, and Rosatom Director General Alexei Likhachev addressed the ceremony directly. Akkuyu, Türkiye’s first NPP, will eventually host four Russian-designed VVER-1200 reactors…Rosatom is constructing the reactors according to a build-own-operate model. To date, the project is fully funded by the Russian side…Putin and Erdogan gave symbolic permission to deliver the first batch of fresh nuclear fuel to the Akkuyu site. Wheeled platforms with transport packaging kits carrying the fuel assemblies proceeded from the checkpoint to the fresh fuel storage. Rosatom’s Alexei Likhachev presented Turkish Energy Minister Fatih Dönmez with a certificate confirming the delivery of fuel in compliance with all safety standards and requirements. Representatives of three generations of residents of the Gulnar district raised the IAEA flag over the Akkuyu NPP site….IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said nuclear energy brings a great benefit, and along with it a great responsibility. ‘Therefore, the IAEA has been following the Akkuyu NPP project from the beginning and providing support to ensure compliance with safety requirements. Today we are full of hope, and we take this step with faith in its success. Akkuyu nuclear power plant will produce clean energy for 100 years. You can count on the support of the IAEA every step of the way.’”

Security Culture 

• Overseas Nuclear Material Security: A Comprehensive National Strategy Could Help Address Risks of Theft and Sabotage: “Some countries have inadequate security at their nuclear facilities making them vulnerable to sabotage and the nuclear materials within them vulnerable to theft. The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), DOD, and other agencies are working to help secure international nuclear materials. For instance, the U.S. is helping other countries increase facility security and counter nuclear smuggling around the world. But we [GAO] found that a few of NNSA’s and DOD’s security programs overlap and could be duplicative. We recommended that NNSA and DOD clarify and document roles and responsibilities when working in the same countries.”
• ‘Damaged Nuclear Bomb’ at Dutch Base Was Dummy Weapon, Pentagon Says: “The Pentagon has said that a picture that featured in a report by the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) on Monday about apparent damage to a US nuclear bomb at a Dutch airbase was a dummy weapon used for training emergency response teams. FAS published a photograph of a device being inspected for damage by US soldiers, including two from an explosive ordnance disposal unit, and a civilian. The rear of the device appears to have been twisted by an impact and one of the tail fins is missing. There is pink sticky tape covering an apparent hole…A FAS blog by Hans Kristensen, the director of the FAS nuclear information project, said it was unclear whether it was a real bomb or a training model. The US air force in Europe and LANL would not comment on the photograph, but on Monday, after publication of Kristensen’s blog, the Pentagon said it was a dummy weapon being used as part of a training drill. ‘At every military facility, we have a response team that has to train together, and that is what this was, and the photo was put in a recruitment manual,’ Oscar Seára, a Pentagon spokesperson, said.”
• NNSA Establishes Advisory Committee for Nuclear Security: “The Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has established the Advisory Committee for Nuclear Security (ACNS). Formerly known as the Defense Programs Advisory Committee, the newly formed ACNS enlists experts with knowledge that spans the full range of the NNSA missions to provide independent advice and recommendations to NNSA leadership. The ACNS will provide insight on the stewardship and modernization of the nation’s nuclear stockpile and enterprise, nuclear nonproliferation and arms control, and counterterrorism and counterproliferation. NNSA envisions the ACNS serving a role by critically examining programs and strategies in an evolving international security environment.”
• Low-Flying Helicopters will be Zipping Over the Boston Area in the Coming Days. Here’s Why: “If you live or work in the Boston area, you’ll likely notice low-flying helicopters zipping through the sky over the next few days. Bay Staters who do spot the twin-engine Bell 412 helicopters shouldn’t be alarmed by the unusual sight, according to the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration. NNSA says it will be conducting low-altitude helicopter flights over downtown Boston and the Boston Marathon race route starting Friday and lasting through Monday to measure background radiation as part of standard preparations to protect public health and safety on the day of an event…In a statement, the NNSA said, ‘These surveys are a normal part of security and emergency preparedness activities. NNSA is making the public aware of the upcoming flights so citizens who see the low-flying aircraft are not alarmed.’ The 127th running of the Boston Marathon is slated to take place on Patriots’ Day.”
• US Warns Russia Not to Touch American Nuclear Technology at Ukrainian Nuclear Plant: “The US has sensitive nuclear technology at a nuclear power plant inside Ukraine and is warning Russia not to touch it, according to a letter the US Department of Energy sent to Russia’s state-owned nuclear energy firm Rosatom last month. In the letter, which…is dated March 17, 2023, the director of the Energy Department’s Office of Nonproliferation Policy, Andrea Ferkile, tells Rosatom’s director general that the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Enerhodar ‘contains US-origin nuclear technical data that is export-controlled by the United States Government.’ Goods, software and technology are subject to US export controls when it is possible for them to be used in a way that undermines US national security interests. The Energy Department letter comes as Russian forces continue to control the plant, which is the largest nuclear power station in Europe and sits in a part of the Zaporizhzhia region that Russia occupied after its invasion of Ukraine last February. The plant has frequently been disconnected from Ukraine’s power grid due to intense Russian shelling in the area, raising fears across Europe of a nuclear accident. While the plant is still physically operated by Ukrainian staff, Rosatom manages it. The Energy Department warned Rosatom in the letter that it is “unlawful” for any Russian citizens or entities to handle the US technology.”

Material Minimization

• Belgium’s IRE Moves to 100% Low-Enriched Uranium: “Belgium’s Institute for Radioelements (IRE), a key producer of molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) and iodine-131 (I-131) widely used in nuclear medicine, has completed conversion of its production process to low-enriched uranium (LEU). This has ended the use of highly enriched uranium (HEU), which is seen as a proliferation risk. IRE said conversion to a LEU process represents the culmination of years of work and collaboration between its R&D, production, safety, quality assurance and regulatory teams. IRE has developed an entirely new industrial process for supplying Mo-99 and I-131 to healthcare professionals, without impacting the site’s production capacity…The Director-General of the Euratom Supply Agency and Co-chair of the European Observatory on the Supply of Medical Radioisotopes Agnieszka Kazmierczak said completion of the conversion is an important milestone in global efforts to minimise HEU use. ‘The close cooperation between various actors involved in this endeavour allowed to advance the goal of both: nuclear security and security of supply of the most vital medical radioisotopes.’…The US Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) provided financial and technical support for the conversion. “For decades, access to life-saving medical isotopes depended on the shipment of proliferation-sensitive nuclear material across continents,” said NNSA Administrator Jill Hruby. ‘With IRE’s production facility converted to LEU, all major producers across the Mo-99 industry can perform their vital work without HEU targets.’”
• Three Months, Three Missing Radioactive Items. Here’s What You Need to Know: “What do a capsule in Australia, a cylinder in Thailand and a camera in the US have in common? All three contained radioactive material and went missing over the past three months, in what experts say is a hugely rare coincidence that nonetheless raises safety questions about what are a fascinating – and incredibly useful – set of substances…‘Hundreds of thousands’ of these sources are ‘used and transported without issue every day,’ Lauren Steen, general manager of Radiation Services WA, a consultancy that writes about radiation management plans in Australia, told CNN. Radioactive materials have a variety of industrial uses, like the cylinder that went missing in Thailand which measured ash at a coal power plant. In construction, radiographic cameras, like the one that went missing in the US, can be used to inspect the integrity of ships, pipes and other small spaces, according to the National Nuclear Security Administration. Radioactive substances can also be found in gauges that test soil. The capsule that went missing in Australia, for example, was used in a density gauge by the mining company Rio Tinto…Three radioactive items going missing within such a short period of time has sparked concerns but experts say the frequency of the recent incidents is atypical. ‘I just think it seems to be massive coincidence,’ Steen said. ‘In 15 years of working in radiation management, Steen told CNN she had never heard of a radioactive source ‘going missing’ until this year. ‘To be honest, I’m shocked,’ Steen said. ‘In all my years of practicing radiation safety, I’d never come across these situations before.’”
• Libya Lost, Then Found, 2.5 Tonnes of Uranium — A Red Flag for Nuclear Safety: “Earlier this year the International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi reported that about 2.5 tonnes of uranium ore concentrate had gone missing from a site in Libya. This was arguably one of the largest quantity of uranium ore concentrate that had ever been misplaced. Barely a day after the IAEA’s announcement, General Khaled Mahjoub of the self-styled Libyan National Army said the uranium ore had been found about 5km from the warehouse where it had been stored. A week later, the IAEA, which had been monitoring the stockpile occasionally, confirmed that most of the uranium ore concentrate had been found…Nuclear material experts had said the Libyan uranium ore concentrate in case posed ‘no significant security risk’ as it required prohibitively sophisticated processing capabilities before it can be suitable for civil or weapons use. Nevertheless, the news of missing Libyan uranium ore concentrate did highlight serious problems with the national and global governance structures for managing uranium.”

Emerging Technologies 

• What Happened When WMD Experts Tried to Make the GPT-4 AI do Bad Things: “Hundreds of industry, policy, and academic leaders signed an open letter this week calling for an immediate moratorium on the development of artificial intelligence ‘more powerful than GPT-4,’ the large language model (LLM) released this month by OpenAI, an AI research and deployment firm. The letter proposes the creation of shared protocols and independent oversight to ensure that AI systems are ‘safe beyond a reasonable doubt.’ ‘Powerful AI systems should be developed only once we are confident that their effects will be positive and their risks will be manageable,’ said the letter, which was published by the Future of Life Institute on its website…The letter’s call for a temporary halt on AI development may not be entirely at odds with OpenAI’s own recent representations of its outlook on the issue. The company’s CEO, Sam Altman, recently said ‘we are a little bit scared of this’ and has himself called for greater regulation of AI technologies. And even before the world reacted to GPT-4 and ChatGPT’s release, OpenAI’s creators appear to have been sufficiently concerned about the risks of misuse that they organized months of testing dedicated to identifying the worst things that the AI might be used for—including the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.”
• Emergency-use Robot Trialed at Sellafield: “A remotely-operated rescue robot capable of withstanding hazardous environments has been evaluated at the UK’s Sellafield nuclear site. Designed and manufactured by British engineering firm Forth, the Rescue Robot will make emergency jobs across UK nuclear plants ‘significantly safer and more cost effective.’ The Rescue Robot has been built on a 1.6-tonne JCB compactor excavator platform and fitted with high-tech robotics systems and wireless technology, in addition to specialist, robust cameras and lights which will not be destroyed in hazardous conditions……The robot has been successfully trialed at the Sellafield site and Cumbria-based Forth is now looking to roll it out at other plants across the UK. ‘The Rescue Robot is a pioneering development which has already been successfully tested in hazardous environments, and it has been manufactured to offer a safe, remotely-operated alternative to sending humans into disaster zones,’ said Forth Managing Director Mark Telford. ‘By working with Sellafield Ltd, we were able to prove the machine is able to withstand some particularly dangerous conditions, and its various adaptations and capabilities mean that this will be a real asset to the UK’s nuclear industry. ‘There are endless amounts of modifications and end effectors which can be included on the robot, and we are excited to be able to provide a product which will make working in nuclear plants across the country much safer, while also saving industry a substantial amount of money.’”
• Lawmakers Propose Banning AI From Singlehandedly Launching Nuclear Weapons: “American Department of Defense policy already bans artificial intelligence from autonomously launching nuclear weapons. But amid rising fears of AI spurred by a plethora of potential threats, a bipartisan group of lawmakers has decided to make extra-double-sure it can’t. As announced earlier…Senator Edward Markey (D-MA) and Representatives Ted Lieu (D-CA), Don Beyer (D-VA), and Ken Buck (R-CO) have introduced the Block Nuclear Launch by Autonomous AI Act, which would ‘prohibit the use of Federal funds to launch a nuclear weapon using an autonomous weapons system that is not subject to meaningful human control.’ The act would codify existing Pentagon rules for nuclear weapons, which, as of 2022, read thusly: ‘In all cases, the United States will maintain a human ‘in the loop’ for all actions critical to informing and executing decisions by the President to initiate and terminate nuclear weapon employment.’”

Member Organization Announcements and Updates

Centre for Science and Security Studies

• Professor Christopher Hobbs and Dr. Sarah Tzinieris from King’s College London, together with Professor Sukesh Aghara from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, have released an edited book that spans the depth and breadth of the field of nuclear security. The Oxford Handbook of Nuclear Security is the first major academic publication on this emerging area of scholarship. The 41-chapter volume is the first comprehensive study of nuclear security—including insider threats and security culture—and provides an in-depth exploration of current and historical aspects of nuclear security, while also envisaging future areas of focus, such as next generation reactors, emerging cyber threats, advances in nuclear forensics, and the expanding application of open-source intelligence. Some chapters of The Oxford Handbook of Nuclear Security are already available online, while the hardcopy version will be available later in the year. 

The Stimson Center 

• Sneha Nair was a panelist in NTI’s “Global Dialogue on Nuclear Security Priorities” and “Emerging Nuclear Security Leaders” session between April 12-14, 2023. She contributed a paper titled: Converging Goals: Examining the Intersection Between Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Nuclear Security Implementation. The paper and presentation examined how efforts to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion in nuclear facilities can help strengthen security culture and improve nuclear security implementation by practitioners around the world. Learn more.

James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS)

• On March 28, 2023, the Black Sea Women in Nuclear Network (BSWN), established through a collaboration between CNS and the Los Alamos National Laboratory, conducted another round of the Black Sea Experts NucTalks, celebrating Women’s History Month. The virtual webinar focused on women’s leadership and featured four speakers, who shared challenges, achievements and their own experiences. Read more.
• On April 14, 2023, the Washington, D.C. office of CNS hosted “Russian Nuclear Weapons in Belarus? A CNS Roundtable Discussion” hybrid event. The roundtable event focused on the implications of President Vladimir Putin’s March 25 announcement that Russia will deploy some of its tactical nuclear warheads to Belarus. Follow the link to learn more about the event.
• On June 19-23, 2023, CNS, Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (MIIS), in collaboration with the Nuclear and Energy Research Institute (Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares, IPEN), will conduct a five-day symposium titled “Nuclear Nonproliferation and Security for Women in STEM in Latin America and the Carribean” in São Paulo, Brazil. See the announcements in Portuguese and Spanish. Learn more here.

Nuclear Transport Solutions (NTS) 

• NTS Development Lead for Government, Security and Resilience, Alex Barrow, presented a paper at the Nuclear Threat Initiative’s 16^th Global Dialogue on Nuclear Security Priorities in Vienna, Austria. The paper, titled “Nuclear Security at the Multilateral and Industry Levels – Bridging the Gap”, reviewed the current state of industry engagement in the nuclear security multilateral policymaking, assistance and capacity-building regime, outlined the benefits of greater industry involvement, and presented a set of recommendations for industry and the IAEA, governments and wider civil society to achieve this. It also highlighted the recent efforts and experiences of NTS in this regard as a case study.

Odesa Center for Nonproliferation (OdCNP)

• Ali Alkis of the Odessa Center for Nonproliferation (OdCNP), published “Armed Conflict and Nuclear Security: Implications for Europe,” as part of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium’s Non-Proliferation and Disarmament papers. Read the piece. 
• Ali Alkis participated in the NTI’s “Global Dialogue on Nuclear Security Priorities” and “Emerging Nuclear Security Leaders” session between April 12-14, 2023.

The Critical Mass

• Scott Eshom, Director of Programs & Partnerships at The Critical Mass, LLC announced the success of their fundraising campaign, which exceeded their goal of $4,500 in support of partners at Razom for Ukraine. Razom is a leading non-profit dedicated to amplifying voices in Ukraine and supporting communities and individuals impacted by the current conflict. The Critical Mass partnered with Made in ALX and the local Ukrainian-American community in Northern Virginia to sell over 90 hand painted Ukrainian pysanky eggs for the cause. Learn more about Razom for Ukraine and the fundraiser by clicking the links.

Individual Member Updates

• Artem Lazarev from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) shared the following updates:
  • On March 28-31, 2023, UNODC contributed to the Regional Workshop to Promote the Universalization of the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) and its Amendment, organized by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which took place in Zimbabwe. UNODC staff delivered presentations on the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT) and UNODC related technical and legislative assistance, participated in panel discussions and facilitated an exercise on a fictional case study.
  • On April 3-5, 2023, UNODC contributed to the National Workshop to Raise Awareness on CPPNM and Its Amendment, organized by the IAEA in Sierra Leone. UNODC staff presented on ICSANT, benefits of adherence and UNODC’s related technical and legislative assistance, and contributed to discussions related to Sierra Leone’s adherence to ICSANT and A/CPPNM. UNODC also held bilateral consultations with the national stakeholders to sensitize them to the importance of becoming party to ICSANT.
  •  Both contributions took place within the context of the EU-funded project “Union support to promote universalization and effective implementation of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism.”
• On April 13, 2023, Alan J. Kuperman, associate professor of the LBJ School of Public Affairs and Coordinator for the Nuclear Proliferation Prevention Project issued a formal comment to the Department of Energy over its plans to build a new research reactor fueled by highly-enriched uranium (HEU). This is the first time in five decades that the US will be building such a reactor—in contradiction to longstanding US nonproliferation policy. The proposed fuel would contain more than 600kg of 93%-enriched, weapons-grade uranium, enough for dozens of nuclear weapons. Read his comment here. 
• David Kenneth Smith provided an update about a document published by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) entitled, “Establishing a Nuclear Forensics Capability: Application of Analytical Techniques.” The IAEA-TECDOC-2019 has been in preparation for more than 12 years and provides specific information on the sequence, plans, analytical capabilities, and methodologies necessary to develop and sustain a nuclear forensic capability needed to respond to incidents of nuclear and other radioactive material out of regulatory control. Read the publication. 
• Bahram Ghiassee provided the following updates: 
  • On 18 April 2023, he was the ‘Viva Voce Examiner’ of a PhD candidate at Imperial College London. The Candidate’s doctoral research was concerned with the economic, social, and environmental impact of economic sanctions imposed on Iran, in response to its nuclear activities. The Primary focus was 2006 to 2016, where extensive UNSC nuclear-related sanctions, EU sanctions, and US sanctions were imposed, and upon implementation of the JCPOA were lifted.
  • On 30 April 2023, he gave a one-hour presentation (in Persian) titled ‘Reflection on the Genesis and the Future of the Iran Nuclear Accord (JCPOA).’ Watch the recording.
  • On 20 April 2023, he delivered an in-person made a presentation titled ‘Nuclear Diplomacy and Iran – Mastering the Art of Deception’, at a conference at the University of the Arts London (UAL). Learn more. 
  • On 18 April 2023, part of his TV interview with the Persian Service (Radio Farda) of the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty was broadcast, on ‘The Vulnerability of Iran’s Nuclear Facilities to Missiles, Rockets, and Drone Strikes.’ Watch the clip.

Opportunities

• The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is hiring for their Raymond Frankel Nuclear Security Policy Fellowship. This fellowship provides an opportunity for an early-career professional with training in security studies or nuclear policy to learn about a career in public policy and administration. Read more.
• George Washington University is searching for a Program Manager for Nuclear Security Engagement. Apply for the role.
• General Dynamics Information technology is seeking a Nuclear Threats Reduction Program Advisor. Learn more. 
• The University of California Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation’s Public Policy and Nuclear Threats Boot Camp at UC San Diego, known as the PPNT Boot Camp, is now accepting applications for its July 9 – 21, 2023 course. The Boot Camp is open to all graduate-level students, post-docs, and professionals, and features lectures, discussions, debates, and policy simulations. Participants attend talks by distinguished researchers, academics, policy officials, and operational specialists from leading universities, the National Laboratories, international organizations, and government agencies dealing with nuclear threats, command and control, international safeguards, nonproliferation strategies, and other nuclear issues. Applications are due May 5, 2023. Apply here.
• The Capital Area Division (CAD) of Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) has an outstanding opportunity for an exceptional Nuclear Subject Matter Expert with experience identifying, characterizing, and assessing global nuclear and radiological threats including proliferation and procurement trend analysis. Learn more.
• Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is hosting its Introduction to Arms Control Course, which offers a comprehensive overview of core technical, legal, and policy concepts in nuclear arms control. The course will be held July 24–28, 2023. Applications are due May 8. Apply here.
• Harvard University’s Davis Center Arms Control Negotiation Academy (ACONA) is a 12-month high-level professional development program for a competitively selected cohort of 16 rising international security experts and practitioners. The 2023 Fellowship runs from July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024. To apply, please send your materials to [email protected] by Friday, May 12, 2023, 11:59pm EDT. Learn more.
• CSIS’s Project on Nuclear Issues (PONI) will host its 2023 Summer Conference at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory on July 26 and 27. PONI is now soliciting applications for the conference. Apply to present.  
• Council on Strategic Risks has put out a call for applications for its Early-Career Fellowship for Reducing Nuclear Weapons Risks. Applications are due Monday, June 5, 2023. Read more.