Design Information as the basis for effective Safeguards. The case of MYRRHA.

Design information (DI) is basic to effective safeguards. DI is used by the Safeguards Authorities to establish the facility safeguards approach, to determine material balance areas (MBAs) and select key measurement points (KMPs), and to establish the essential equipment list (EEL). Knowledge of the technical processes involved is mandatory. In accordance with INFCIRC/153 para 48, the DI is verified at the facility, throughout the facility lifecycle, to allow considerations given to changes or modifications in operating conditions, developments in safeguards technology or experience in the application of verification procedures. MYRRHA, an Accelerator Driven System (ADS) under development at SCK•CEN, aims to serve as a basis for the European experimental ADS to provide protons and neutrons for various R&D applications, to power a subcritical Pb/Bi Gen IV type reactor, and to implement Partitioning and Transmutation of Minor Actinides in high level waste. The MYRRHA DI is evaluated against the "Safeguards by Design" principle, as put forward by the IAEA, in a recent technical workshop on the topic.