On 21 March 2017, the Centre for Energy Research of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Permanent Mission of Hungary to the UN in Vienna held a joint press conference in Budapest about the cooperation of the IAEA and the Centre for Energy Research in Hungary. The Hungarian institute is the first collaborating centre dedicated by the IAEA in nuclear forensics. The Collaborating Centre organizes and holds international training courses and longer programs, determines innovative research areas, provides technical support and assistance to the region and strengthens nuclear security in Hungary and in the region.
Mr David Kenneth Smith, Nuclear Security
Coordinator, Division of Nuclear Security, International Atomic Energy
Agency, outlined that the present Collaborating Centre designation represents
the culmination of over ten years of partnership between the IAEA and the
Centre for Energy Research, and its forerunner organizations, to bring
innovative nuclear security solutions to meet the threat of nuclear and
radioactive material out of regulatory control. Mr Smith highlighted “These
threats are not hypothetical; approximately 3000 incidents of nuclear and
other radioactive materials out of regulatory control have been officially
reported by Member States to the IAEA’s Incident and Trafficking Database
from 1993 to 2016.”
In his speech, Mr Ákos Horváth, Director
General of the Centre for Energy Research pointed out: “This event is
of great importance in the history of our research centre, and I would
say, also important for the Agency as well, as we were the first designated
in this research field. It is an honour for those colleagues working in
the Nuclear Security Department of our Research Centre, who put considerable
efforts in the adoption of the nuclear security culture and practice of
the nuclear forensics in Hungary.”
Ms Éva Kovács-Széles, head of the Nuclear
Security Department, Centre for Energy Research held a presentation about
the area of nuclear forensics. She underlined that one of the challenges
of the researchers is to keep the procedures and the professional rules
of the investigating authorities in mind.
What is Nuclear Forensics?
Nuclear forensics is increasingly used
by states to prevent and respond to incidents of nuclear and other radioactive
material (e.g. radioactive sources for industry and medicine) encountered
out of regulatory control, using laboratory analysis and subsequent interpretation
to determine the origin and history of these materials supporting law enforcement
investigations or nuclear security vulnerability assessments. The area
receives special attention because of the increasing number of events.
How do they support HAEA’s activities?
Within the Centre for Energy Research the Nuclear Forensic Laboratory supports the regulatory work of the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority. In case of finding or confiscation of nuclear materials, the laboratory will carry out the analysis to identify the owner of the materials. In the case of missing materials, their well-equipped mobile laboratory helps the search of the licensee and the inspectors of the HAEA. During IAEA or HAEA safeguards inspection, the laboratory provides technical support.