ABACC

2020-2016

2020

From 9-12 March, the Secretary of ABACC, Ms. Elena Maceiras participated in the Meeting of the Board of Governors of the IAEA in Vienna.

2019

From 4-8 March, ABACC participated as an observer in the IAEA Board of Governors Meeting in Vienna, Austria.

ABACC hosted twenty-five fellows of the UN Fellowship Program on Disarmament to attend lectures on the regional safeguards system, implementation of safeguards, and made technical visits to Brazil’s Nuclear Fuel Elements Factory in Resende.

On December 3-4, the ABACC participated in a workshop focused on discussing subjects that could contribute to the success of the NPT Review Conference.

On December 10 to 12, ABACC, in cooperation with the IAEA, conducted a training course for its inspectors on Short Notice Random Inspection procedures at fuel fabrication plants.

2018

From 13-15 February, ABACC participated in the Meeting of Member State Support Program to IAEA Safeguards as an observer. ABACC highlighted its method of UF6 sampling, called the “ABACC-Cristallini” method, and discussed research and development related to safeguards.

On 25 April, ABACC participated as an observer in the second session of the Preparatory Committee of the 2020 NPT Review Conference in Geneva, Switzerland. ABACC made a statement highlighting the successes of its partnership and expressed its wish to be a model for other regional cooperative agreements. ABACC noted that its inspectors had performed more than 3,000 inspections since its inception, and about 100 inspections in 2017 alone.

On 20 September, ABACC Secretary Dr. Marco Marzo delivered a statement at the 61st IAEA General Conference. Dr. Marzo reaffirmed the ABACC’s commitment to maintain the peaceful use of nuclear energy in Argentina and Brazil.

From 5-8 November, ABACC participated in the Symposium on International Safeguards of the IAEA. ABACC chaired a session on national and regional safeguards systems and presented three technical papers.

On 21 November, Ms. Elena Maceiras was appointed the new secretary of the ABACC.

2017

On March 6-9, ABACC Secretary Dr. Marco Marzo participated as an observer in the IAEA Board of Governor’s Meeting. Since 2011, ABACC has attended these meetings as an observer.

On April 27, ABACC participated in the Organization of American States (OAS) Forum on Confidence and Security-Building Measures. Secretary Dr. Marco Marzo presented the context and mission of ABACC, in the first address from ABACC to the OAS.

On May 2-12, ABACC participated as an observer at the Preparatory Committee of the 2020 NPT Review Conference in Vienna, Austria.

On 21 September, Secretary Dr. Marco Marzo delivered a statement at the 61st IAEA General Conference. Dr. Marzo highlighted the extensive inspections undertaken by ABACC and called for continued strong relations between itself and the IAEA.

2016

On 7 March, Minister Ricardo Ayrosa delivered a statement at the IAEA Board of Governors Meeting. Minister Ayrosa highlighted the role of ABACC and its partnership with the IAEA.

On 29 August, ABACC delivered a statement at the IAEA’s 60th General Conference, highlighting the importance of technical cooperation and training.

On 7-11 November, ABACC participated in the “Technical Training Meeting on Technologies for Safeguards Joint Use” at the IAEA.

On 25 November, IAEA Director General Yukyia Amano visited ABACC to discuss the current state of relations between the IAEA and ABACC.

2015-2003

2015

On 28 January, ABACC announced the completion of 107 inspections of the nuclear facilities of Brazil and Argentina in coordination with the IAEA.

During the 2015 NPT Review Conference (27 April – 22 May), representatives of ABACC, Argentina, and Brazil mentioned the work of ABACC. Dr. Odilon Marcuzzo do Canto, Secretary of the ABACC delivered a statement to the Main Committee II, addressing ABACC’s recent developments. Ambassador María Cristina Perceval of Argentina addressed the work of ABACC. Ambassador Antonio de Aguiar Patriota of Brazil stated that ABACC could serve as a model for the establishment of NWFZs in the Middle East and elsewhere.

On 16 September, ABACC issued a statement at the plenary sixth meeting of the 59th IAEA General Conference. Dr. Odilon Marcuzzo do Canto summarized ABACC’s last 25 years and outlined what they hope to accomplish in the future. He highlighted technical cooperation and training as important ways to compete with the pace of technological innovations, that could also be used in the nuclear security field. One example of ABACC using new technology to develop safeguards emphasized was the “development of a new method of uranium hexafluoride sampling in enrichment plants.” This new method is less intrusive/time consuming.

ABACC released its annual report on the activities performed in accordance with the bilateral agreement between Brazil and Argentina. The report confirmed that no indication of any diversion of nuclear materials or noncompliance was detected.

2014

On 14 January, inspectors of ABACC and IAEA announced that in the last year they performed 118 inspections of nuclear facilities in Brazil and Argentina.

On 30 July, the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted an event in Rio de Janeiro discussing the contributions of OPANAL and ABACC toward establishing Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones.

During the 58th General Conference of the IAEA (22-26 September), Mr. Antonio Abel Oliveira, Secretary of the ABACC delivered a statement, updated the conference on ABACC’s recent developments.

On 27 October, the president of the Korean Institute of Nuclear Nonproliferation and Control (KINAC) visited ABACC. The two organizations held their 11st annual coordination meeting, discussing the technical cooperation projects.

2013

On 7 January, inspectors announced that in 2012, they performed a total of 123 inspections (up from 110 in 2011) of nuclear facilities in Brazil and Argentina.

2012

On 6 February the ABACC announced that in 2011 the inspectors of the ABACC performed 110 inspections in the nuclear facilities of both countries, 65 of which were in Argentina and 45 of which were in Brazil. This is compared to 99 total inspections in 2010.

In June 2012 ABACC’s Planning and Evaluation Official published the paper “Twenty years of ABACC: Accomplishments, lessons learnt and future perspectives,” and presented it at the 33rd Annual Meeting of the European Safeguards Research and Development Organization (ESARDA). The paper provides a retrospective view of twenty years of safeguards performance in Argentina and Brazil, emphasizing the technical cooperation projects developed with ESARDA, the European Community and the IAEA.

2011

On 6 June, the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) recognized the Quadripartite Agreement as an alternative to the Additional Protocol. The participants of the 21st Plenary Meeting Nuclear Suppliers Group adapted new guidelines in which states that have complied with the highest standard of nuclear safeguards and protection of their nuclear material have access to sensitive technology used for enrichment of uranium and reprocessing of nuclear fuel.

On 10-11 November, the ABACC commemorated its 20th anniversary in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. At the event, issues such as non-proliferation, the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and national, regional and international safeguards were all discussed.

During 2011, there were modifications in the composition of the ABACC governing body: the ABACC Commission. Also in 2011, ABACC participated in several international forums, presenting both technical and institutional lectures. Highlights were the participation in the 55th General Conference of the IAEA and, as a guest speaker, at the Forum on Experience and Possible Relevance to the Creation of a Nuclear Weapon Free Zone in the Middle East, in November 2011. 2011 also recorded the first participation of ABACC, as an observer, at the meeting of the Board of Governors of the IAEA.

2009

The 2009 Annual Report noted “several” Coordination meetings between ABACC and the State Parties throughout the year, along with the Quadripartite Agreement, some key issues discussed included:

• Analysis and review of Short-Notice Random Inspections during transfers of spent fuel to silos and uranium to enrichment plants;
• Maintenance of safeguards equipment owned by the IAEA and ABACC;
• Accounting data and its dissemination to ABACC and IAEA.

On 19 October, Brazil gave technical details to ABACC and the IAEA plans to develop an 11 MW prototype nuclear reactor by 2014. It plans to have an operational nuclear submarine by 2021. In response, ABACC officials made note of Brazil’s obligations to Article 13 under the Quadripartite Agreement, which highlights any State Party who decides to use nuclear material “required to be safeguarded under this Agreement for nuclear propulsion or operation of any vehicle, including submarines and prototypes” must inform the ABACC and “make it clear” that its action does not conflict with other obligations nor grants the ability diverted materials can be used for nuclear weapons.

2008

On 10 December, the 10th meeting of the Liaison Committee of the Quadripartite Agreement was held at CNEN headquarters. This meeting is the highest level designated in the Quadripartite Agreement and involved the full participation of both State parties, the IAEA and the ABACC. Some of the main topics discussed include: Design Information Verification procedures, acceptance of the States to accept the proposal of the IAEA to increase the number of inspectors, and transmission of the operational status of safeguards equipment. The general consensus was that significant progress had been made in implementing the Quadripartite Agreement.

2004

On September 17, the 9th Meeting of the Quadripartite Agreement’s Technical Subcommittee took place in Vienna, Austria. The subcommittee is a forum of the Quadripartite Agreement to discuss technical issues related to the implementation of safeguards. The forum seeks to improve the effectiveness and efficiency in the application of international and regional safeguards.

The meeting identified potential fields for the application of remote monitoring and of the “unified uranium” category and established work teams for the discussion of the safeguards approach proposed for each one of the conversion plants submitted to the Quadripartite Agreement.

2003

The 9th meeting of the Liaison Committee of the Quadripartite Agreement was held in June.

ABACC Commission

The commission consists of four members (two members from each country). Among the commission’s duties are monitoring the functioning of the SCCC, procuring necessary resources to establish the secretariat, supervising the functioning of the secretariat, preparing a list of qualified inspectors to carry out inspection tasks, and reporting to the parties every year on the implementation of the SCCC.

2011

The Commission held three ordinary meetings in April, August and December, and two extraordinary meetings in May and July. The topics of the extraordinary meetings were: progress of the activities in commemoration of the 20 years of ABACC.

In the December 2011 meeting, the proposal to update the team of Argentine inspectors submitted was approved and the Secretariat made a presentation on the topic “State Level Approach in the Application of Safeguards,” in response to the request made by Commission members. At the end of this meeting, Lic. Antonio Abel Oliveira became the secretary of ABACC and Dr. Odilon Marcuzzo do Canto became the deputy secretary.

2009

The Commission held three meetings throughout the year. It passed procedural measures, and more importantly discussed new safeguards measures proposed for uranium conversion plants.

2008

Three meetings of the ABACC Commission were held throughout the year: the first in April in Buenos Aires and the other two in Rio de Janeiro in August and December. The first two meetings of the ABACC were largely procedural, relating to budgetary issues and the work plan. During the third meeting, the Commission appointed 16 new inspectors, increasing the total number of Argentine and Brazilian inspectors to 98.

2007

During its first meeting on 30 March, the Commission approved the 2007 Economic and Financial Balance Sheet and the audit report. During the second meeting held in August, the Commission confirmed Dr. Odilon Antonio Marcuzzo do Canto as ABACC’s Secretary.

In its December meeting, the Commission approved contributions of $1,681,250 from both governments for 2008. On 7 December, IAEA Director-General Mohamed ElBaradei made an official visit to ABACC, meeting with the Secretary as well as Brazilian and Argentine officials.

2006

The Commission met three times in 2006. During the first meeting, the Commission discussed its annual report, audit, and balance sheet. In addition, the Secretariat provided an explanation concerning the safeguards approach for Indústrias Nucleares do Brasil (INB)’s commercial uranium enrichment plant and the procedures related to inspections during the initial production stage of the plant.

In the second meeting, the work plan and budget for 2007 were introduced. During the third meeting, the Commission approved the 2007 Work Plan and Budget at a sum of up to $3,313,000.

2005

The first two meetings of the year by the commission took place on March 7 and July 4. The meetings considered activity reports, economic and financial balance sheets, the external audit report and the 2006 work plan, and the budget of ABACC. A report was presented on the status of the negotiations related to the safeguards approach at the uranium enrichment plant of Indústrias Nucleares do Brasil (INB), as well as on the tasks carried out after the negotiation. The commission approved the text of the 2004 Annual Report. During the second meeting, the new website of the ABACC was launched at www.abacc.org.

At its meeting on July 4, the commission decided to summon an ad-hoc advisory group to analyze the safeguards approach for the commercial uranium enrichment plant of INB under negotiations between IAEA and Brazil.

The meeting of the ad-hoc group, consisting of Argentine and Brazilian experts, was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on August 1 and 2. The ad-hoc group considered that the general guidelines, the criteria and the set of actions of the safeguards approach were appropriate and recommended analyzing the possibility of transmitting the “normal operation” signal of the surveillance systems in order to speed up the response in case of a failure. Additionally, the group advised performing periodical reviews of the proposed actions.

Secretariat

The secretariat consists of a Secretary and a Deputy Secretary, whose nationalities are alternated each year; a staff of 10 technical officers (including the Secretary and Deputy Secretary), two administrative officers, eight support staff, and 98 inspectors.

Among the duties of the secretariat are implementing directives and instructions issued by the Commission, performing necessary activities for the implementation and administration of the SCCC, and informing the commission immediately of any discrepancy in the records of either of the parties that emerges from the evaluation of the inspection results.

2011

On 31 January, Dilma Rousseff, the new president of Brazil, and Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, president of Argentina, signed a nuclear agreement. The joint statement signed by the two parties highlights the following:

• Recognition of the high degree of integration achieved by both countries in regard to bilateral nuclear cooperation
• Welcoming the possibility of the two countries cooperating together on the development of their nuclear sectors, which will be facilitated by signing the Cooperation Agreement between CNEA and the CNEN on the New Multipurpose Research Reactor Project
• Successful ratification of the Joint Presidential Deceleration on Nuclear Policy and push for further dialogue between two countries as well as continuing exchange of information about their nuclear programs
• Continuing political assessment of bilateral nuclear cooperation and performance of the ABACC, necessary to insure the enhancement of the ABACC.

On 6 June, Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) recognized the Quadripartite Agreement as an alternative to the Additional Protocol. The participants of the 21st Plenary Meeting Nuclear Suppliers Group adapted new guideline in which states that have complied with the highest standard of nuclear safeguards and protection of their nuclear material have access to sensitive technology used for enrichment of uranium and reprocessing of nuclear fuel.

On 18 July, the Brazilian—Argentine Agency for Accounting and Control of Nuclear Materials celebrated 20 years of its establishment; contributing to nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation. UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, congratulated the two governments for reaching a “significant milestone.”

On 29 July President of Brazil Dilma Rousseff and President of Argentina Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner met in Brasilia to address the status of the projects within the framework of the Brazil-Argentina Bilateral Integration and Coordination Mechanism, as well as items of bilateral, regional and multilateral interests. The two Presidents also reaffirmed their commitment to the Joint Presidential Declaration signed in January of this year.

2010

On 3 May, Deputy Secretary Odilon Marcuzzo do Canto issued a statement highlighting the progress of the ABACC. He noted in 2009 there were “58 inspections in Argentine facilities and 60 in Brazilian facilities”, involving “854 inspectors-day.”

On 3 August, Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirschner met with Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula de Silva to discuss the future role and importance of the ABACC and peaceful nuclear energy.

During the 54th IAEA General Conference from 20-24 September, Secretary Antonio Abel Oliveira issued a statement emphasizing the importance of ABACC efforts in bilateral safeguards between Argentina and Brazil. He also stated several projects and developments:

• ABACC and EURATOM are “currently developing cooperation projects” for the use of 3-dimensional lasers and ultrasonic seals;
• A project with the IAEA on the “Common Use of Equipment” for regional inspections is being developed;
• ABACC is working with the Republic of Korea as part of a “technical cooperation” on topics such as short-notice random inspections and CANDU-type reactor equipment.

The 2009 Annual Report was distributed to institutions in Brazil, Argentina, and abroad.

2009

Diplomatic sources have reported initial negotiations regarding a verification regime for the production and utilization of low-enriched uranium for Brazil’s Navy in February. A “preliminary concept” for the safeguards of this fuel were said to establish a baseline for negotiations. Trilateral talks are expected to begin by the end of 2009.

In September, the IAEA and ABACC held the 24th Coordination Meeting during the IAEA General Conference in Vienna. The main issues discussed were an IAEA proposal regarding safeguards procedures dealing with the Quadripartite Agreement, activities during Design Information Verification inspections, and new procedures regarding the transport of samples and equipment among facilities. The 2008 Annual Report was distributed to institutions in Brazil, Argentina, and abroad.

2008

The ABACC carried out both routine and ad hoc inspections in coordination with the IAEA. Throughout the year 57 inspections were made in Argentina and 46 in Brazil.

On 28 and 29 January, the 11th Meeting of the Liaison Committee between CNEN, ARN, ABACC and IAEA was held. The main purpose of these meetings was to prepare for the 10th Meeting of the Liaison Committee of the Quadripartite Agreement.

From 27-30 May, two officials from ABACC took part as observers in the annual meeting of the European Safeguards Research and Development Association (ESARDA) in Luxemburg. During the meeting, around 40 participants discussed the current situation of the implementation of the Additional Protocol and the application of integrated safeguards.

On 31 July 2008, the new inspection regime for the nuclear fuel fabrication plants located in Argentina and Brazil entered into force. The Short-Notice Random Inspections regime was implemented in the Fábrica de Elementos Combustibles of Combustibles Nucleares Argentinos S.A. and in the Fábrica de Combustível Nuclear—Reconversão e Pastilhas/Componentes e Montagem of the Indústrias Nucleares do Brasil (INB).

In September, the 23rd Coordination Meeting between the IAEA and ABACC was held. The main issues discussed were the joint use procedures for common use of equipment, an analysis of the new EOSS seal which will replace the VACOSS seals, and the provision of new systems and equipment for nuclear facilities.

Also in September, the Secretary of ABACC attended the 52nd General Conference of the IAEA, where he affirmed the commitment of the governments of Argentina and Brazil and the importance of the cooperation between ABACC and the IAEA.

In October, negotiations on creating a company to link Argentina and Brazil’s national uranium enrichment programs took place. Diplomatic sources believe that if negotiations are successful, a plant at Pilcaniyeu, which would enrich fuel to 1% U-235, could be constructed by 2010. The safeguard system for this plant is being developed by ABACC. On 8 December, a tripartite meeting was held between ABACC, IAEA and CNEN. This meeting focused on the implementation of the safeguards approach at the INB enrichment plant in Rio de Janeiro.

During 2008, there were two transfers of spent fuel from storage pools to silos. This represented an increase in the effort required for inspection efforts in Argentina.

The 2007 Annual Report was distributed to institutions in Brazil, Argentina and abroad.

2007

In coordination with the IAEA and with national authorities, 59 inspections were carried out in Argentine facilities and 53 were carried out in Brazilian facilities.

In Argentina, physical inventories were verified at Combustibles Nucleares Argentinos (CONUAR) and Complejo Fabril Córdoba. A number of transfers were verified, including the transfer of spent fuel elements for dry storage at the Embalse Nuclear Power Plant and the export of spent fuel elements to the United States. In December, the first field trial of a Short Notice Random Inspection (SNRI) took place at CONUAR.

In Brazil, inventories were verified at the Aramar Experimental Centre (CEA), the Angra I Nuclear Power Plant, and the enrichment plant of Indústrias Nucleares do Brasil (INB). Verification activities at enrichment facilities included unannounced inspections.

In cooperation with the IAEA, the ABACC tested the surveillance cameras for the Hawk Digital Imaging System (HDIS), part of a new line of safeguards equipment that will be used in the near future, especially in facilities where portable cameras are needed.

The 2006 Annual Report was distributed to institutions in Brazil, Argentina, and abroad.

2006

The work being undertaken by the ABACC, the IAEA, and the Brazilian Nuclear Energy Commission (CNEN) to implement safeguards at the first Brazilian commercial uranium enrichment plant was approved on 23 March. This established the basis to begin an inspections regime. In November, the ABACC and the IAEA carried out the first unannounced inspection at the Indústrias Nucleares do Brasil (INB)’s enrichment facility.

Representatives of the ABACC Secretariat participated in the meeting of the European Safeguards Research and Development Association (ESARDA) from 29 May-2 June, the 47th annual meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Material Management (INMM) from 16-20 July, and the 50th General Conference of the IAEA from 18-22 September.

In 2006, 59 inspections were carried out in Argentine facilities and 58 in Brazilian facilities. Accounting records were authorized corresponding to 559 reports received from both countries.

The 2005 Annual Report was distributed to Brazil, Argentina and abroad.

2005

On 29-30 March, a coordination meeting between ABACC and the IAEA was held in Vienna. Both agencies performed a review of the situation concerning the application of safeguards under the Quadripartite Agreement. Information was exchanged with regard to the inspection activities scheduled for the next six months.

The 2004 Annual Report was distributed to Brazil, Argentina and abroad.

2004

In February, a coordination meeting between ABACC and the Brazilian National Authority (CNEN) was held to discuss the revision of the terms of the 1993 Agreement of Mutual Cooperation. The meeting considered the introduction of a mechanism to allow for the automatic renewal of the agreement. The meeting also discussed the current status of the Projects of Technical Cooperation and devised general guidelines for inspectors.

On 15 March, a coordination meeting between ABACC and the National Argentine Authority (ARN) was held. The meeting reviewed the current status of the Technical Cooperation between CNEN and the ARN. The meeting also discussed issues related to the application of safeguards in the nuclear power plants of Atucha I and Embalse.

On September 13-17, ABACC held negotiations on the facility attachments in Brazilian and Argentine facilities in Vienna, Austria. Regarding the Brazilian facilities, the update of the document corresponding to Indústrias Nucleares do Brasil’s fuel manufacturing plant was completed, including the stage for the conversion of UF6 into UO2 pellets. An agreement was reached regarding the Argentine Embalse station’s document and only a decision by the IAEA is pending for the distribution of the final texts. With regard to the Atucha I Nuclear Power Plant, the facility attachment is at an advanced negotiation stage and a decision from the IAEA is being awaited with regard to the ARN’s proposal to use the unified uranium category in order to simplify the registration of the nuclear loss. Currently, only a few facilities in operation are missing the approval of their documents.

The 1993 Agreement of Mutual Cooperation between ABACC and the Brazilian National Nuclear Energy Commission was renewed on November 5.

The 2003 Annual Report was distributed to Brazil, Argentina and abroad.

2003

On August 15, Ambassador Celso Amorim of Brazil and Ambassador Rafael Bielsa of Argentina developed a Memorandum of Agreement which reaffirmed their countries’ “engagement with the disarmament and the non-proliferation of mass destruction weapons.”

2002

On 16 September at the 46th General Conference of the IAEA, the Secretary of the ABACC, Elias Palacios, stated that the IAEA and ABACC are expected to reach an agreement soon on the first guidelines for joint inspection activities at specific facilities. He stated that the conclusion of these guidelines will allow the optimization of the inspection effort applied by the two organizations. The conclusion of these two documents is also a requirement to reach a proceeding known as the “New Partnership Approach” between the IAEA and ABACC in the near future.

2001

On 14 August, at the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the ABACC, Brazil and Argentina signed a joint declaration creating the Brazil-Argentine Agency on Nuclear Energy Applications (ABAEN). Through ABAEN, the two countries pledged to cooperate in such areas as the nuclear fuel cycle, nuclear waste, and nuclear energy reactors. This cooperation aimed at promoting the right conditions for the design and execution of joint projects and supplements the Argentine-Brazilian Standing Committee on Nuclear Policy.

2000

A technical cooperation agreement discussed between ABACC, the Technology Center for Nuclear Control (TCNC), and the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, came into effect on 31 January. The purpose of this arrangement is to foster cooperation between ABACC and the TCNC with regard to accounting and control of nuclear materials.