On the request of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the IAEA conducted a national workshop on State Systems for Accounting for and Control of nuclear material (SSAC) in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, from 26 to 28 August 2013.
The workshop informed stakeholders in Myanmar about various aspects of SSACs, focussing on issues relevant to the conclusion of an Additional Protocol, as well as amendments to Myanmar's Small Quantities Protocol to its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement.
Deputy Minister for Science and Technology, Dr. Aung Kyaw Myat, opened the workshop, which was also attended by Deputy Minister for Science and Technology, Dr. Ba Shwe. Around 40 participants from different government agencies participated in the workshop. IAEA experts provided presentations and supported practical exercises.
Background
In April 2013, the IAEA received a visit from Government officials from Myanmar in connection with the conclusion of an Additional Protocol and amendments of Myanmar's Small Quantities Protocol. The visit was followed by a two-week safeguards training course for four officials, held at the IAEA's headquarters in Vienna, Austria, in June 2013. During these visits, Myanmar requested the IAEA to conduct a national SSAC workshop in Nay Pyi Taw.
The Additional Protocol is a legal document that, when concluded with States with comprehensive safeguards agreements (CSAs), equips the IAEA with important additional measures that provide for broader access to information about the State's nuclear programme, increased physical access by IAEA inspectors and improved administrative arrangements. The implementation of an Additional Protocol significantly increases the IAEA's ability to verify the peaceful use of all nuclear material in States with CSAs in force. As of 15 July 2013, there were 121 Additional Protocols in force (including for 115 CSA States).
The purpose of a Small Quantity Protocol (SQP) is to minimize the burden of safeguards activities on States with little or no nuclear activities. Under an SQP based on the modified standardized text approved by the Board of Governors in 2005, the States are required to submit to the IAEA an initial report on all nuclear material subject to safeguards, reports of imports and exports of nuclear material, permit inspection activities and inform the IAEA once a decision has been made to build a nuclear facility. As of 15 July 2013, 46 CSA States have operative SQPs that had yet to be amended.