Nuclear Law: The Global Debate

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) plays a unique role in the development and implementation of international nuclear law. This chapter contains a short examination of the regime of nuclear law and its four pillars, namely safety, security, safeguards and civil liability for nuclear damage. It examines how we got to where we are and where we can take the global debate, taking into account current and emerging peaceful applications of nuclear science and technology such as advanced reactors and nuclear fusion. The chapter also contains an invitation to all stakeholders in the global community, including international organizations, non-governmental organizations, industry, academia and civil society, as well as all those that will be responsible for shaping nuclear law in the future, to let the debate and dialogue on nuclear law begin.

Motion-induced energy shifts of a multilevel atom in a black-body radiation field

We investigate the influence of atomic uniform motion on radiative energy shifts of a multilevel atom when it interacts with black-body radiation. Our analysis reveals that the atomic energy shifts depend crucially on three factors: the temperature of black-body thermal radiation, atomic velocity, and atomic polarizability. In the low-temperature limit, the presence of atomic uniform motion always enhances the effect of the thermal field on the atomic energy shifts. However, in the high-temperature limit, the atomic uniform motion enhances the effect of the thermal field for an atom polarizable perpendicular to the atomic velocity but weakens it for an atom polarizable parallel to the atomic velocity. Our work indicates that the physical properties of atom–field coupling systems can in principle be regulated and controlled by the combined action of the thermal field and the atomic uniform motion.

IAEA Safeguards: Correctness and Completeness of States’ Safeguards Declarations

In the light of the occasional challenges in recent years to the legal authority of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to verify the correctness and completeness of States’ declarations under comprehensive safeguards agreements, the chapter assesses the law and practice on this issue since the early 1990s. In particular, the chapter focuses right and obligation of the IAEA to verify the correctness and completeness of States’ declarations—one of the most fundamental principles in the implementation of comprehensive safeguards agreements. The chapter provides a detailed textual and historical analysis indicating that, in fulfilling that obligation, the IAEA is not limited to access to information about nuclear material which has been declared by the Agency, or to locations where such material has been declared by the Agency. A contrary interpretation would cause the IAEA to revert to a pre-1991 approach to verification that focused primarily on declared nuclear material, which resulted in the IAEA’s failure to detect Iraq’s undeclared nuclear programme.

Kajian Performa Passive Residual Heat Removal System (PRHRS) pada System-Integrated Advanced Modular Reactor (SMART)

SMART (System-Integrated Advanced Modular Reactor) merupakan desain reaktor multifungsi Generasi III+ tipe SMR (Small Modular Reactor) yang dikembangkan oleh KAERI (Korean Atomic Energy Research Institute) dengan kapabilitas produksi listrik 107 MWe dan energi termal 365 MWt. Sistem SMART meliputi berbagai fitur keselamatan untuk mengatasi LOCA (Loss of Coolant Accident) dan skenario kecelakaan lainnya. Salah satu dari fitur tersebut adalah Passive Residual Heat Removal System (PRHRS) atau sistem pembuang sisa panas pasif yang bekerja tanpa membutuhkan sumber daya elektrik. Sistem ini bekerja sesuai dengan prinsip sirkulasi alam sehingga bergantung pada aspek termal, tekanan, dan pengaruhnya terhadap aliran massa. Ketiga aspek tersebut dapat mempengaruhi kapabilitas pembuangan panas pada sistem. Data performa PRHRS reaktor SMART pada beberapa kondisi kecelakaan yang diperoleh melalui studi eksperimental maupun simulasi termohidrolika dianalisis pada kajian ini. Hasil analisis menunjukkan unjuk kerja pembuangan sisa panas yang baik oleh PRHRS SMART dengan waktu aktuasi yang tepat dan pendinginan yang stabil. Dengan kapabilitas multifungsi dan kemampuan pendinginan yang baik pada berbagai skenario kecelakaan, SMART memiliki potensi tinggi untuk kelak diterapkan di Indonesia.

Science and technology in Vietnam

The main managing agency responsible for science and technology (S&T) in Vietnam is the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST). MOST's responsibilities include scientific research, technology development and innovation activities; development of science and technology potentials; intellectual property; standards, metrology and quality control; atomic energy, radiation and nuclear safety; and state management on public services in fields under the Ministry’s management as stipulated by law.

DEVELOPMENT TRENDS OF REGULATORY AND LEGAL REGULATION OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES IN THE FIELD OF USE OF ATOMIC ENERGY

Based on the analysis of changes in the atomic legislation of individual foreign countries, the article identifies trends in the development of legal regulation of the introduction of new technologies in the field of atomic energy use and concludes that they go beyond the traditionally conservative culture of nuclear energy and require new incentives and approaches to their regulatory and legal regulation, developed through dialogue between regulators, the nuclear industry and science.

Review planned for Fukushima waste-water release

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is to conduct a safety review of the planned discharge of millions of tonnes of treated waste water from the Fukushima nuclear reactor into the ocean.

The performance of the State Atomic Energy Corporation ROSATOM during the COVID-19 pandemic

Subject. The paper describes the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global atomic energy and the Russian one, in particular, illustrating the case of the State Atomic Energy Corporation ROSATOM. Objectives. We evaluate the consequences the pandemic caused for the atomic energy and, inter alia, ROSATOM. Methods. The study draws upon the analysis of literature and statistical data. Data were taken from the official website of ROSATOM and other open sources. Results. The COVID-19 pandemic was found to have both a positive and negative effect on various sectors and the atomic energy, specifically. We pointed out key development lines of ROSATOM, which relate to the core activity and new business activities for the State Corporation it has undertaken partially trying to deal with the pandemic crisis. The article briefly informs of the sectors, which were more or less hit by the pandemic, i.e. manufacturing, finance, aviation, construction, tourism, agriculture, pharmaceutics, and electronics. We also delve into new type of ROSATOM’s activities. Conclusions and Relevance. As the study shows, the COVID-19 pandemic affected atomic energy to a lesser extent and unexpectedly urged the development of new business types related to nuclear medicine.

Prospects for Iran in 2022

Subject Prospects for Iran in 2022. Significance After five waves of COVID-19, Iran’s new government will prioritise domestic and economic issues. The conservative administration of President Ibrahim Raisi is trying to bolster its legitimacy by demonstrating improved capacity and good governance through accelerated vaccine distribution, anti-corruption efforts and a strong focus on the ‘resistance economy’, boosting local output. Impacts Iran will prioritise efforts to improve ties with Gulf Cooperation Council neighbours. Management of political and economic crises involving client Shia groups in Beirut and Baghdad will be a major focus. Nuclear monitoring disputes with the UN International Atomic Energy Agency will remain difficult to resolve. Inflation will likely rise further, given strained government finances.