Conditions applying to Australian uranium exports - safeguards obligations under NPT.
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Date
1975-08
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Publisher
Australian Atomic Energy Commission
Abstract
The Australian Government's expressed desire to inhibit the spread of nuclear weapons and its wish to prevent Australia's uranium exports being used for manufacture of nuclear explosives are underwritten by Australia's formal international obligations. Australia is not free to export its material without paying due regard to supra-national requirements. This paper defines two safeguards regimes, one applying to countries such as Australia which are party to the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the other to those which are not parties. The application of safeguards and the role of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are briefly explained. Australia's obligations under the NPT and those stemming from specific undertakings to the IAEA are stated. The latter require Australia to ensure that Non-Nuclear Weapons States not party to the NPT give assurances that Australian uranium will not be used for the manufacture of nuclear explosives and that they will permit verification by the IAEA. These obligations give rise to a set of minimum conditions applying to exports of Australian uranium which vary according to the NPT status of the importing countries.
Description
Keywords
IAEA safeguards, Australia, Nuclear weapons, Non-proliferation treaty, Uranium, Nuclear materials diversion
Citation
Rotsey, W. B. (1975). Conditions applying to Australian uranium exports - safeguards obligations under NPT. (AAEC/IP4). Lucas Heights, NSW: Australian Atomic Energy Commission.