nbsp   How are CANDU reactors safeguarded against nuclear weapons proliferation?
[A. CANDU Technology] [B. The Industry] [C. Cost/Benefit] [D. Safety/Liability] [E. Waste] [F. Security/Non-Proliferation] [G. Uranium] [H. Research Reactors] [I. Other R&D] [J. Further Info] A CANDU reactor, like all commerical power reactors, creates plutonium in its fuel which could be used in the manufacture of a nuclear device (albeit of limited usefulness – see related FAQ). Under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), an agency of the United Nations, a number of safeguards are applied to CANDU reactors that meet the international convention of (a) timely detection of the diversion of nuclear material, and (b) deterrence of such diversion in the first place, due to the capability for timely detection. As with all commercial power reactors, these safeguards are based primarily on accountability of the fuel inventory at all stages of its movement (including within the reactor core), utilizing overlapping layers of “containment” (physical barriers) and “surve
