Council for Security Cooperation in Asia Pacific

Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific
Confidence and Security Building Measures Working Group

Nuclear Energy Experts Group Meeting

Vladivostok, Russia, September 14-16, 2002

Summary of Discussions
The Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific (CSCAP) Confidence
and Security Building Measures (CSBM) International Working Group's Nuclear Energy Experts Group (NEEG) met for the tenth time, in Vladivostok, Russia from Sept. 14-16, 2002. Twelve participants from 10 member committees (Australia, Canada, China, the European Union, Japan, Mongolia, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Russia, and the United States) attended.

The meeting coincided with the Russian Federation Ministry of Atomic Energy (MINATOM) conference on "Ecological Problems in Nuclear Submarines Decommissioning and Nuclear Power Industry Development in the Region." NEEG participants were invited to attend this meeting, which included a visit to the Zvezda Shipyard where nuclear submarines are decommissioned. The CSBM Working Group is extremely grateful to MINATOM for its support to the NEEG meeting and for allowing its participants to take part in its important demonstration of nuclear transparency.

The meeting began with updates on significant regional nuclear energy-related developments. As always, the focus was on providing updates to the CSCAP Asia Pacific Nuclear Energy Transparency Web Site http://www.cscap.nuctrans.org , which continues to be managed and maintained by the Cooperative Monitoring Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on CSCAP's behalf.

The Australian participant provided details on the progress of the Replacement Research Reactor project, and the search for a national repository and storage site for low-level and intermediate-level nuclear wastes. Australia is building a pilot plant for treating contaminated liquids and will soon be opening a new uranium mine. Several illustrated hand-outs were provided that will form the basis for an Australian page on the Nuclear Energy Transparency Web Site.

The Chinese participant provided comprehensive papers on nonproliferation and nuclear safety and security which should soon be posted on the Nuclear Energy Transparency Web Site. He highlighted his country's cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and further noted that a nuclear terrorism training seminar will be held in Beijing in October.

The Korean participant highlighted the Republic of Korea's enhanced cooperation with the IAEA, which follows an agreement with the organization in October, 2001. He noted that construction at the nuclear facility in North Korea, undertaken by the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO) pursuant to the 1994 Agreed Framework, is 22.9 percent complete as of July. The first concrete was poured Aug. 7. A delegation of 25 North Korean technicians attended a 26-day safety training program in South Korea on July 2 and another program has already been arranged. He also discussed Korean cooperation with Vietnam and Indonesia.

The group discussion focused on the encouraging diplomatic activity undertaken by the North Korean government in recent weeks. Participants tried to identify ways that the CSBM International Working Group and NEEG could contribute further to the process of integrating North Korea into the international community. Of particular importance was future involvement in the NEEG CSCAP-DPRK was invited to participate in this meeting and sent regrets that it was unable to do so this time. It was hoped that the transparency norms and practices being established by the NEEG would apply when the KEDO reactors are completed.

The Mongolian representative discussed the recent conference on the use of nuclear power in Mongolia. A recommendation has been forwarded to the president and parliament that calls for the establishment of a legal framework for the use of nuclear energy, long-term technical cooperation with
the IAEA, mining and exploration of uranium concessions, and the use of the media for public acceptance of nuclear energy. While no decision has been made, Ulaanbaatar seems to be moving closer to a decision to build small (500 MW) reactors to provide energy in Mongolia's remote western region.

The Japanese participant discussed Prime Minister Koizumi Junichiro's upcoming visit to North Korea and called for CSCAP to help facilitate communication with Pyongyang. There was also a report on the troubles caused by Tokyo Electric Power Company's falsified inspection reports. As a result of the controversy, the loading of mixed oxide fuel (MOX) at one of the reactors has been delayed; operations at the Rokkasho reprocessing plant have also been pushed back as a consequence.

In Canada, political problems topped the agenda. The anticipated change of leadership in the ruling party and its dependence on Southern Ontario's voters where much of the country's nuclear power is generated and its wastes stored will likely result in important questions on nuclear policy
being delayed, perhaps for a year.

A similar situation prevails in Europe. The EU participant noted that the important nuclear energy-related issues are more political than technical or economic. He highlighted the significance of the Kyoto Protocol, which is diminishing the options governments have if they want to decrease greenhouse gas emissions. This, plus fears of increasing reliance on Middle Eastern oil,
could challenge the perception that Europe is opting out of nuclear energy. Although several governments have made high-profile efforts to cut nuclear energy use, dependence has not diminished. While nuclear policy is traditionally decided by national governments, the European Commission, driven by concerns over enlargement, is asserting more jurisdiction over the issue.

From the Russian front came the news that the Bilibino nuclear power plant in the Russian Far East has recently joined facilities in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and the U.S. in providing radiation monitoring data to the Nuclear Energy Transparency Web Site. The prospects and features of the nuclear power
industry in the Russian Far East were further highlighted at the MINATOM conference.

A separate presentation was given outlining a proposal for an atmospheric and water radiation monitoring program at the Zvezda shipyard that could be incorporated into the CSCAP Nuclear Energy Transparency Web Site. Participants all agreed that Russia's neighbors would applaud such a transparency effort. It was noted that Russia may be considering the establishment of a regional spent fuel temporary repository and that demonstrating transparency in the submarine decommissioning effort could contribute to regional support and acceptance for future repository efforts.

A U.S. participant provided an update on the Yucca Mountain high-level
radioactive waste storage project and the political difficulties it has encountered. He then explained the problems that have arisen as the U.S. government has attempted to dispose of 34 tons of plutonium as required by a nuclear arms agreement with Russia. He concluded with mention of the rising concern over radiological dispersion devices, otherwise known as "dirty bombs," and asked whether the CSBM Working Group should take up the issue.

The NEEG also received an update on continuing improvements to the Nuclear Energy Transparency Web Site. After a brief description of the project, the Korean participant brought the group up to date on discussions in Korea to take over management of the Web Site. He expressed hope that a final decision might be reached by the end of September.

The meeting concluded with a discussion on future topics and on ways to further increase the relevance of the Web Site. Suggested topics for future discussion included an examination of European approaches toward managing the back end of the fuel cycle, including national means of spent fuel storage and disposal. An examination of reported increased interest in nuclear power
and in research reactors by Southeast Asian states was also suggested, especially as the NEEG considers adding information on research activities to the Web Site. Other possible topics included further discussion on regional storage proposals, on enhanced cooperation between the NEEG and IAEA, and on the continuing impact of the war on terrorism on nuclear transparency efforts. Export control issues were also raised as a potential topic of discussion, although this appears to be better suited for discussion by the broader-based CSBM Working Group. Participants were encouraged to submit additional topic suggestions to NEEG Chairman Ralph Cossa.

U.S. participants are examining the possibility of conducting the next NEEG meeting at Yucca Mountain, in order to gain greater knowledge of both the technical and political aspects associated with high-level waste management. Interest was also expressed in visiting an Indian nuclear power plant as part of an effort, in cooperation with CSCAP-India, to incorporate data on India's civilian nuclear power program into the Web Site. Other potential sites to for future meetings include a remote radiation monitoring site or the central monitoring facility in South Korea and Australia's current and under construction research reactors.