The US program of technical assistance to the Atomic Energy Agency of the Republic of Kazakstan

In the summer of 1993, the US Department of Energy (US government) received a formal invitation from the Atomic Energy Agency of the Republic of Kazakstan (AEARK) to visit Kazakstan to prepare a program for US cooperation with the AEARK to improve material protection, control, and accounting (MPCA) at Kazakstani nuclear facilities. As a result of this visit, an agreement for such cooperation was prepared and a program plan was formulated. The Program Plan includes provisions for Technical Working Group meetings, a site survey of a Kazakstani nuclear facility for possible upgrades in MPCA, assistance to AEARK in the regulatory area, training courses to familiarize AEARK and nuclear facility personnel with US safeguards practices, and supply of US safeguards equipment. This cooperative program is funded by the Nunn-Lugar program and the Department of Energy. The program is coordinated with the International Atomic Energy Agency and similar programs of other donor countries (Sweden, Japan, and the United Kingdom). This paper summarizes accomplishments of the program to date and future plans.