GIF Evaluation Methodology for Proliferation Resistance and Physical Protection of Generation IV Nuclear Energy Systems: Overview and Perspectives

The Generation IV International Forum (GIF) was initiated in 2000 and formally chartered in mid 2001. It was set-up as an international collective representing the governments of ten Countries (Argentina, Brazil, Canada, France, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of South Africa, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States) strongly involved in the deployment and development of nuclear technology for energy production. The European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM), represented by the European Commission, signed the GIF charter on July 30, 2003. The People¿s Republic of China and the Russian Federation signed the GIF charter in November 2006. The Technology Goals for Generation IV nuclear energy systems, developed during the Roadmap project [1], highlight Proliferation Resistance and Physical Protection (PR&PP) as one of the four goal areas for these technologies, along with Sustainability, Safety & Reliability, and Economics. On the basis of these four goal areas an evaluation methodology was developed which contributed to identify the six nuclear energy systems (NES) options currently under consideration by GIF. The Generation IV Roadmap recommended the development of a comprehensive evaluation methodology to assess PR&PP of Generation IV nuclear energy systems. Accordingly the PR&PP Expert Group was formed and tasked by the GIF in December 2002 to develop an improved evaluation methodology on the basis of the Roadmap¿s recommendation. The group includes members of the GIF and representatives from the IAEA. The methodology is organised as a progressive approach applying alternative methods at different levels of thoroughness as more design information becomes available and research improves the depth of technical knowledge. To date, the overall framework of the methodology is considered rather accepted and stable; the methodology was advanced with a development case study and has been tested though a demonstration case study. This paper provides an updated overview of the methodology approach developed by the PR&PP Expert Group. The paper also highlights some of the achievements and the lessons learned during the demonstration case study carried out in 2005-2006, in which different techniques have been applied for the implementation of the PR&PP evaluation framework. Finally the paper presents some of the ongoing activities and future directions for the activity of the group.JRC.G.8-Nuclear safeguard