At the Invitation of HAEA Australian Nuclear Regulatory delegation visited Budapest

Geoffrey Bruce Shaw, Director-General of the Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office visited Hungary on 13 September 2024 at the invitation of the President of the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority (HAEA).

During the meeting, the parties among other issues discussed the existing experiences on coordination between organisations involved in the handling of missing radioactive sources, the revision of bilateral administrative agreement on provisions of the Intergovernmental Agreement Concerning Cooperation in Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy and the Transfer of Nuclear Material. On the basis of previous results the two sides also reviewed perspectives for further cooperation in research and development. In this context, Andrea Beatrix Kádár, President of the HAEA, stressed the importance of independence of the Authority, which ensures the influence-free decision making guided by professional criteria.

Andrea Beatrix Kádár also highlighted that the legislative capacity of the Authority provides it with an opportunity to develop an up-to-date regulatory framework in line with the latest scientific and technological achievements for the supervision of the peaceful, safe and secure use of nuclear energy.

With respect to the new facilities, the senior officials of the HAEA presented the progress of the installation process. Both sides agreed that it is crucial to early define the nuclear safeguards, already at the design stage of the facility ("safeguards-by-design" principle), which among other aspects also helps to optimise costs.

The visit resulted in signing of a Memorandum of Understanding regarding Cooperation on Nuclear Non-Proliferation, Safeguards and Regulation related to Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy.

As part of the programme, the delegation visited the Paks Nuclear Power Plant and the Visitors Centre of the facility.