Citation:
S. Adu, “Critical Analysis of Security of Radioactive Sources in Sub-Saharan Africa”, Institute of Nuclear Materials Management Annual Meeting, 21-25 July 2024, Portland, Oregon.
Abstract:
The unauthorized or illegal movements of nuclear and other radioactive materials form a critical issue that is on the rise globally, and Africa is not an exception. The potential threat of terrorism involving these materials underscores the need for robust regulatory infrastructure, inspection, and enforcement measures to ensure their safe and secure handling. African countries are becoming increasingly aware of the need to gather resources and capabilities to respond to these events effectively. The basic regulatory infrastructure, inspection, and the design and enforcement of control measures established to maintain the continuity of knowledge about possession, use, and movements of radioactive and nuclear materials are of critical importance. These national regulatory systems should be consistent with the international standards and are expected to ensure that effective control of radioactive materials is maintained. The code of conduct on safety and security of radioactive sources describes the measures to achieve effective safety and security of radiation sources. However, control can be lost for a variety of reasons, for instance, a licensee non-compliance of the requirements (lack security culture) and inadequate physical security. In addition to negligence, there may also be deliberate diversion of radioactive materials. Furthermore, it is often difficult for the regulatory authorities if any to maintain the inventory of registered mobile radioactive sources within the country especially in the oil and gas industries. Movements of sources within the country are not adequately covered, making it challenging to account for the sources of one operator/licensee during an inspection. External issues also complicate the situation, such as frequent import/export of mobile sources to and from neighboring countries or among the countries in the region, difficulty in verifying the shipment of sources, and challenges in detecting the exporting sources at border crossings. It is an undeniable fact that the security vulnerability of one country can have an impact on the security of its neighboring countries. Most countries in the sub-Saharan Africa do not have effective regulatory systems, hence a weak link among the countries. This paper critically examines the existing measures put in place by countries and the support received from international partners such as Office of Radiological Security (ORS), Nuclear Smuggling Detection and Deterrence and IAEA to address these challenges. The study will also highlight gap in regional radiological security and offer recommendations for enhancement to reduce the risk.