Norway is the latest IAEA Member State to team up with the Agency's Department of Safeguards by establishing a Member State Support Programme (MSSP). The partnership, formally signed on 27 September 2023, will see Norway working closely with the IAEA to address challenges and opportunities in the field of nuclear safeguards.
Nuclear safeguards are technical measures, embedded in bilateral agreements between the IAEA and a State, which are implemented by the IAEA to provide the international community with assurances that nuclear material remains in peaceful use.
"By establishing a MSSP, Norway intends to help the IAEA strengthen the Agency's nuclear verification system," said Per Strand, Director General of the Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority. "Norway has a long association with the IAEA and was the very first country to have an IAEA safeguards inspection in 1962. I'm delighted that the new MSSP with the IAEA bolsters this long relationship."
MSSPs extend support to the IAEA in various forms, including knowledge exchange, technology transfer, expert collaboration and financial support. These efforts collectively assist the IAEA in its mission to verify the peaceful use of nuclear materials while staying at the forefront of advancements in nuclear technology.
"MSSPs are one of the primary ways States can help strengthen the effectiveness and efficiency of Agency safeguards," said Massimo Aparo, Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Safeguards. "By leveraging the impressive array of expertise and talent from Norway, I am confident we can accomplish great things together."
The establishment of Norway's MSSP marks a significant addition to the network of active support programmes across the world, which has now reached 24. This partnership will allow the IAEA to work closely with Norway on a range of projects including advancing safeguards by design for new or modified facilities; training of IAEA safeguards inspectors; and developing and testing new spent fuel measurement methods.
"Norway recognizes the paramount importance of the IAEA maintaining the highest standards in international nuclear safeguards," said Susan Eckey, Permanent Representative of Norway to the International Organizations in Vienna. "By joining the IAEA's Member State Support Programme, we aim to contribute to global efforts in this critical area. This partnership underscores our dedication to verifying the peaceful use of nuclear material worldwide."
