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Third World Must Boost Nuclear Security, Experts Say By David Ruppe LONDON — A strategy for preventing nuclear and radiological terrorism must include increased efforts to secure radioactive materials in developing countries, experts said at a conference here this week sponsored by the International Atomic Energy Agency (see GSN, June 19, 2003). There may be thousands of sources of radioactive material in countries with no nuclear weapons programs or nuclear power plants, experts said. Many such countries lack the resources to secure them all on their own. “The problem of nuclear and radiological security is not a simple one,” said Azhar Djaloeis of Indonesia’s Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency in a presentation. “Loss of control over such materials, illicit trafficking, existence of orphan sources, all increase the risks not just of one country but of all countries of the region,” said Ron Cameron of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization. He cited three security incidents involving radioactive material that have occurred in Southeast Asia in recent years: accidental overexposures and deaths in 2001 in Thailand from a noncontrolled radiotherapy source; illegal possession and attempted smuggling of cesium in 2003 in that country; and theft in 2000 from a steel company in Indonesia of 25 radioactive sources, many of which have not been recovered. The International Atomic Energy Agency in a report last year estimated there were more than 10,000 sources of radiotherapy materials worldwide and tens of thousands of large radiation sources used as gauges, sterilizers and metal irradiators by industries, according to a story last June by New Scientist. There were 215 cases of confirmed radioactive materials smuggling in the previous five years and many more unconfirmed instances, the story said. Security measures can include technologies such as radiation detectors for border controls and on-site physical security arrangements including locks, alarms, tracking systems, and armed guards, according to experts attending the conference. They can also include incident response training, support in developing regulatory and legal frameworks, an independent national regulatory body, assessments of security strengths and vulnerabilities, international sharing of experiences and best practices, and mechanisms for cross-border coordination on trafficking, they said. Different countries, though, might identify different security challenges, according to Denis Flory, a nuclear adviser for the French Embassy in Moscow, summarizing several papers submitted to the conference from different countries. He noted trafficking fears in crossroads countries such as Serbia, Bulgaria and Paraguay, regulatory framework and nuclear expertise concerns in Serbia, and a desire to obtain the most modern physical protection systems by the Czech Republic. For all four countries, a “need for trained and competent personnel was very, very strongly expressed,” he said. Indonesian CaseDjaloeis estimated that more than 3,000 sites with radioactive material at hospitals and about 1,000 industrial sources exist in Indonesia, in addition to the country’s three research reactors, research and development and training centers, and fuel cycle production facilities. He called the nation’s prevention, detection and response capabilities “inadequate” and said Indonesia faces “major challenges” in improving safety and protection features at the sites and in developing a strong regulatory framework and infrastructure. Indonesia also must overcome patterns of “collusion, corruption and conflicts of interest,” he said. Securing such facilities is particularly important in light of recent major terrorist attacks and also because Indonesia aspires to have in about 10 years a nuclear power plant, he said. A radiological attack could “perhaps kill our nuclear program entirely,” he said. To muster political will for improving national capabilities, the government needs to promote national awareness about radiological threats, he said. Indonesia also must obtain the benefit of international funding and expertise. The problems are “too big to handle” by the country alone, he said. Cameron said there are a number of countries including Australia, organizations including the International Atomic Energy Agency and agreements providing various kinds of assistance in the Southeast Asia and the South Pacific, including expertise, assistance with implementing international guidance, and potential tactical support. He said, though, that securing radioactive sources is a national responsibility and noted only three countries in the region — Indonesia being one of them — have indicated they intend to implement an International Atomic Energy Agency revised Code of Conduct on Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources published in January 2004.
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