Export of nuclear power plants

NUCLEAR

INSTRUMENTS

AND

METHODS

161

(1979)

485 ;

Q

NORTH.HOLLAND

PUBLISHING

CO.

BOOK REVIEW Export of Nuclear Power Plants (IAEA, Vienna, 1978). In March 1978, the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna arranged a symposium on Problems Associated with the Export of Nuclear Power Plants, the Proceedings of which have now been published. The symposium focused on difficulties facing developing countries in the initial stages of nuclear power programmes and was divided into three major subject headings; nuclear safety, domestic contributions and international aspects. As to nuclear safety there seems to be a general understanding for the need for internationally reasonably uniform codes and standards. It is also recognized that the creation of a national regulatory body created one of the most difficult problems in the "front-end" of a nuclear power programme. Lack of governmental understanding of a new technology, budget restrictions, manpower shortage and organizational deficiencies are examples of problems facing many developing countries. Different proposals are put forward as to how supplier countries can assist recipient nations in the field of regulatory matters. The Domestic Contribution part of the symposium clearly

demonstrates that the implementation of nuclear power represents a challenge to the local industry which stimulates it to raise its level of competence. It is pointed out that the local industry could benefit by the appreciable technology transfer that is inherent in the supply of nuclear power plants. However, it is also underlined that the recipient nation must have reached a certain minimum level with respect to industrial infrastructure to be able to accommodate nuclear power plants at all. As expected, the most controversiat matter in conjuntion with exportation of nuclear material and nuclear equipment turns out to be restrictions set up by exporters with reference to the risk for misuse of civilian nuclear installations to produce weapons grade materials. A number of participants stress that cooperation based on international control and mutual confidence rather than onesided constraints should form the future basis for the international development of nuclear power. The United States, in particular, is being criticized for introducing unilateral restrictions thereby hampering rather than promoting international cooperation. F. SEGERBERG