Concepts for Cooperative Nuclear Monitoring in Bangladesh

This paper proposes a nuclear cooperative monitoring project in Bangladesh, implemented through a cooperative arrangement between the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) under the Ministry of Science and Information & Communication Technology, Government of Bangladesh and the Cooperative Monitoring Center at Sandia National Laboratories under the U.S. Department of Energy. The project’s intent is to increase nuclear transparency in the South Asia Region in hopes of building confidence in the region. This paper identifies the need for and benefits of the project. The author discusses the project’s scope, tasks, and phases as well as related issues concerning implementation, operation, and maintenance. The proposed monitoring project encompasses three components: (1) sharing of information on the overall nuclear program (i.e., relevant annual reports); (2) nuclear environmental monitoring; and (3) nuclear facility and materials monitoring. In the first component, the cooperative initiative would make currently available information more accessible through a web site. In the second component, available data on environmental monitoring would be reviewed and authenticated before dissemination. Also, the BAEC’s nuclear monitoring capabilities would be strengthened through the acquisition of monitoring technology and the application of uniform procedures. New project-developed data would be generated and shared. The third component calls for the installation of sensors and other surveillance equipment in key facilities, such as a research reactor, an isotope production facility, and a radioactive waste management facility. Dissemination of information would enhance nuclear transparency in the region and strengthen existing programs of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Nuclear transparency in South Asia could help minimize the risks of misinterpretation, increase nuclear stability in times of crises, and ensure the effective management and resolution of crises. Enhanced security of Bangladesh’s nuclear facilities and materials could reduce the possibility of the misuse of nuclear materials. The Bangladesh project could be a model for other regions that have nuclear installations, leading to confidence building at regional levels.