1. Blockchain and Safeguards: The Potential of Distributed Ledger Technology for Nuclear Safeguards Information Management
Cindy Vestergaard
Director, Nuclear Safeguards Program, The Stimson Center
Thursday, 8 November 2018, 9:00am – 10:30am

2. DLT for an SSAC (Cindy Vestergaard, Stimson Center)
Operator
SSAC
Opportunities
- optimize reconciliation process, reducing time and
costs
- immediate notification of security breaches
- verifiable, immutable history of transactions/data
- avoid risk of single points of failure that could disable the network and makes recovery easier given data is replicated throughout the system
- enables data analytics to identify patterns
Goal: Secure streamlining of information flows and SSAC database between operators and SSAC
Tech: Permissioned DLT platform (possible use of IoT sensors, AI algorithms, etc)
Timeline: years: 3-6 months for mapping the SSAC ecosystem, 3-6 months for developing RFP, 3-6 months for first proof of concept
Challenges
Stakeholders
Political/Legal: Member State acceptability of new technologies
-National policies on transmission of sensitive
information
-Long lag times in adapting national
legislation to emerging technologies
Sustainability: costs for development and maintenance (routinely updating DLT platform)
Stakeholder engagement early in the process of implementing a new technology is critical:
- Operators (industry and laboratories)
- SSAC (national regulator)
- Potential to be used for NCAs (see next slide)

3. DLT for NCAs (2+ SSACs) (Cindy Vestergaard, Stimson Center)
IAEA
Opportunities
- real-time reporting between SSACs
- optimize reconciliation process, reducing time and
costs
- immediate notification of security breaches
- replicated data avoids risk of single points of failure
- verifiable, immutable history of transactions/data
- enables data analytics to identify patterns
Goal: Secure streamlining of information flows for NCA reporting (and nuclear trade) between 2 or more SSACs
Tech: Permissioned DLT platform (possible use of IoT sensors, AI algorithms, etc)
Timeline: years: 3 months mapping DGR information flows, 3-6 months for developing RFP, 3-6 months for first proof of concept
Challenges
Stakeholders
Political/Legal: Member State acceptability of new technologies
-Natl policies on transmitting sensitive info
-Long lag times in adapting national
legislation to emerging technologies
Sustainability: costs for development and maintenance (routinely updating DLT platform)
Operators (industry and laboratories)
SSACs to a specific NCA
Potential for IAEA to be linked in on a specific transfer (thereby improving transit matching)
Regional safeguards regimes such as Euratom and ABACC
NSG to tag and track items

4. DLT for Operator (DGR) (Cindy Vestergaard, Stimson Center)
Opportunities
Goal: long-term data integrity and secure data storage for operator of a deep geological repository (DGR)
Tech: Permissioned (possibly even centralized) DLT platform (additional use of IoT sensors, AI algorithms,
etc)
Timeline: months - 3 months for mapping information flows, 3 months for developing RFP, 3-6 months for first proof of concept
As an emerging facility, operators of DGRs could use DLT from the beginning to:
fully integrate safety, physical security and safeguards considerations with emerging tech
optimize reconciliation process, reducing time and costs
achieve full digital integration and be first to test a proof of concept before operations begin
Real-time reporting to SSAC
Challenges
Stakeholders
Political/Legal: Member State acceptability of new technologies
-Natl policies on transmitting sensitive info
-Long lag times in adapting national legislation
to emerging technologies
Tech: reliance on continuous containment and surveillance (C/S) safeguards measures after enclosement
Sustainability: costs for development and maintenance (routinely updating DLT platform)
- DGR operator
- Utilities providing SNF to DGR
- SSAC