• Home
  • About RSIS
    • Introduction
    • Building the Foundations
    • Welcome Message
    • Board of Governors
    • Staff Profiles
      • Executive Deputy Chairman’s Office
      • Dean’s Office
      • Management
      • Distinguished Fellows
      • Faculty and Research
      • Associate Research Fellows, Senior Analysts and Research Analysts
      • Visiting Fellows
      • Adjunct Fellows
      • Administrative Staff
    • Honours and Awards for RSIS Staff and Students
    • RSIS Endowment Fund
    • Endowed Professorships
    • Career Opportunities
    • Getting to RSIS
  • Research
    • Research Centres
      • Centre for Multilateralism Studies (CMS)
      • Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre)
      • Centre of Excellence for National Security (CENS)
      • Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS)
      • International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR)
    • Research Programmes
      • National Security Studies Programme (NSSP)
      • Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme
    • [email protected] Newsletter
    • Other Research
      • Future Issues And Technology (FIT)
      • Science and Technology Studies Programme (STSP) (2017-2020)
  • Graduate Education
    • Graduate Programmes Office
    • Overview
    • MSc (Asian Studies)
    • MSc (International Political Economy)
    • MSc (International Relations)
    • MSc (Strategic Studies)
    • NTU-Warwick Double Masters Programme
    • PhD Programme
    • Exchange Partners and Programmes
    • How to Apply
    • Financial Assistance
    • Meet the Admissions Team: Information Sessions and other events
    • RSIS Alumni
  • Alumni & Networks
    • Alumni
    • Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers (APPSMO)
    • Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO)
    • SRP Executive Programme
    • Terrorism Analyst Training Course (TATC)
  • Publications
    • RSIS Publications
      • Annual Reviews
      • Books
      • Bulletins and Newsletters
      • Commentaries
      • Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses
      • Commemorative / Event Reports
      • IDSS Paper
      • Interreligious Relations
      • Monographs
      • NTS Insight
      • Policy Reports
      • Working Papers
      • RSIS Publications for the Year
    • Glossary of Abbreviations
    • External Publications
      • Authored Books
      • Journal Articles
      • Edited Books
      • Chapters in Edited Books
      • Policy Reports
      • Working Papers
      • Op-Eds
      • External Publications for the Year
    • Policy-relevant Articles Given RSIS Award
  • Media
    • Great Powers
    • Sustainable Security
    • Other Resource Pages
    • Media Highlights
    • News Releases
    • Speeches
    • Vidcast Channel
    • Audio/Video Forums
  • Events
  • Giving
  • Contact Us
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
RSISVideoCast RSISVideoCast rsis.sg
Linkedin
instagram instagram rsis.sg
RSS
  • Home
  • About RSIS
      • Introduction
      • Building the Foundations
      • Welcome Message
      • Board of Governors
      • Staff Profiles
        • Executive Deputy Chairman’s Office
        • Dean’s Office
        • Management
        • Distinguished Fellows
        • Faculty and Research
        • Associate Research Fellows, Senior Analysts and Research Analysts
        • Visiting Fellows
        • Adjunct Fellows
        • Administrative Staff
      • Honours and Awards for RSIS Staff and Students
      • RSIS Endowment Fund
      • Endowed Professorships
      • Career Opportunities
      • Getting to RSIS
  • Research
      • Research Centres
        • Centre for Multilateralism Studies (CMS)
        • Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre)
        • Centre of Excellence for National Security (CENS)
        • Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS)
        • International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR)
      • Research Programmes
        • National Security Studies Programme (NSSP)
        • Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme
      • [email protected] Newsletter
      • Other Research
        • Future Issues And Technology (FIT)
        • Science and Technology Studies Programme (STSP) (2017-2020)
  • Graduate Education
      • Graduate Programmes Office
      • Overview
      • MSc (Asian Studies)
      • MSc (International Political Economy)
      • MSc (International Relations)
      • MSc (Strategic Studies)
      • NTU-Warwick Double Masters Programme
      • PhD Programme
      • Exchange Partners and Programmes
      • How to Apply
      • Financial Assistance
      • Meet the Admissions Team: Information Sessions and other events
      • RSIS Alumni
  • Alumni & Networks
      • Alumni
      • Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers (APPSMO)
      • Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO)
      • SRP Executive Programme
      • Terrorism Analyst Training Course (TATC)
  • Publications
      • RSIS Publications
        • Annual Reviews
        • Books
        • Bulletins and Newsletters
        • Commentaries
        • Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses
        • Commemorative / Event Reports
        • IDSS Paper
        • Interreligious Relations
        • Monographs
        • NTS Insight
        • Policy Reports
        • Working Papers
        • RSIS Publications for the Year
      • Glossary of Abbreviations
      • External Publications
        • Authored Books
        • Journal Articles
        • Edited Books
        • Chapters in Edited Books
        • Policy Reports
        • Working Papers
        • Op-Eds
        • External Publications for the Year
      • Policy-relevant Articles Given RSIS Award
  • Media
      • Great Powers
      • Sustainable Security
      • Other Resource Pages
      • Media Highlights
      • News Releases
      • Speeches
      • Vidcast Channel
      • Audio/Video Forums
  • Events
  • Giving
  • Contact Us
  • instagram instagram rsis.sg
Connect

Getting to RSIS

Map

Address

Nanyang Technological University
Block S4, Level B3,
50 Nanyang Avenue,
Singapore 639798

View location on Google maps Click here for directions to RSIS

Get in Touch

    Connect with Us

      rsis.ntu
      rsis_ntu
      rsisntu
    RSISVideoCast RSISVideoCast rsisvideocast
      school/rsis-ntu
    instagram instagram rsis.sg
      RSS
    Subscribe to RSIS Publications
    Subscribe to RSIS Events

    RSIS Intranet

    S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies Think Tank and Graduate School Ponder The Improbable Since 1966
    Nanyang Technological University Nanyang Technological University

    Skip to content

     
    • RSIS
    • RSIS Distinguished Public Lecture by Dr Olli Heinonen, RSIS Distinguished Visitor; and Senior Fellow, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University

    RSIS Distinguished Public Lecture by Dr Olli Heinonen, RSIS Distinguished Visitor; and Senior Fellow, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University

    Nuclear Futures - Safety, Security and Safeguards

    27 Oct 2015 15:30 - 17:00
    RSIS Lecture Theatre
    Office Attire
    Type: Lectures / Seminars
    Public
    For Enquiries: [email protected]
    Google Calendar

    Lecture Abstract

    The disaster in Fukushima in March 2011 revealed serious technical and institutional weaknesses, which had to be and are still being fixed throughout the world. This is essential, if nuclear power is to play an increasing role in countries’ energy mix and as a clean energy option in the face of climate change concerns and the reduction of the use of fossil fuels. Since the Fukushima accident, major steps have been taken to rebuild confidence that nuclear power plants are safe from accidents and secure against terrorist attacks. This reassessment includes implementation of higher safety and security standards, stronger emergency response, and expanded peer reviews to demonstrate compliance with strengthened standards. Such work, where the International Atomic Energy Agency plays a pivotal role, relies heavily on expanded international cooperation. The Global Nuclear Safety and Security Framework (GNSS) not only pools resources and shares best practices, but also promotes regional cooperation, which is indispensable to demonstrate to neighboring countries that nuclear energy is used in a safe and secure manner.

    But challenges still remain. At the end of 2014, there were 438 nuclear power reactors operating around the world with 70 nuclear reactors under construction. Asia, with its 46 reactors under construction, is the growth center, though new projects are also emerging in the Middle East, Africa, and South America. A substantial part the growth of nuclear power is also being introduced to new countries. Many of these countries have limited financial resources. Their legal and regulatory aspects as well as nuclear expertise are either at early stages of development or on-going in building up expertise – all of which calls for international cooperation to ensure that nuclear energy will be used in a safe and secure manner. Some of these newcomer countries may also be looking at having nuclear power plans built, owned, and operated wholly by foreign entities. This will bring an entirely new set of challenges to domestic regulators and legislators,

    Strengthened regulatory activities have in recent years also exposed the use of counterfeit, fraudulent and suspect components and systems in nuclear power plants. Combat against such malpractices is essential for safety and security, since corruption continue to exist in many countries.

    Expanded use of nuclear energy means extended use of nuclear materials, and increased risk for nuclear proliferation. The nuclear non-proliferation regime has been under a stress for two decades when trying to solve the cases of North Korea, Iran and Syria. In recent times, the P5+1 and Iran have agreed on a Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) that seeks to curb Iran’s nuclear program. It is a complex agreement. On 18 October the JCPOA entered its adoption phase. Under this phase, Iran will roll back its uranium enrichment program and enriched uranium stocks to scale. In other words, this limits Iran’s ability to produce high-enriched uranium enough for one nuclear device in less than a year under the Agreement’s terms at known facilities. Iran’s Arak heavy water reactor will be converted to a smaller research reactor. The IAEA will have an extensive monitoring scheme in place in Iran for more than a decade. However, Iran will continue to maintain its enrichment capability, which it can start to expand after a decade, and Iran has not explicitly foregone its reprocessing aspirations. Iran’s neighboring countries will make their own assessments and the IAEA’s concerns about the possible military dimension of Iran’s nuclear program may put some countries in the region to consider with the medium term to match Iran’s enrichment capacities. Whether and to what extent this occurs depends as well on other factors and variables. These are not the only questions to be addressed. Does it also mean that the agreement with Iran sets a new standard where a country – in non-compliance with its international undertakings – can maintain and develop further its enrichment capabilities? Here in Asia, there have been many attempts to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue. Will there be a new approach to North Korea?

    The nuclear landscape will evolve over the coming two decades. So will the nuclear futures of countries. We would see more new-comer nuclear power users; yet other countries are becoming less reliant on nuclear energy; while others will rise as emerging technology holders and rise in the ranks as nuclear suppliers.

    About the Speaker

    Dr Olli Heinonen is Distinguished Visitor at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies and Senior Fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. Before joining the Belfer Center in September 2010, Olli Heinonen served 27 years at the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna. Dr Heinonen was the Deputy Director-General of the IAEA, and head of its Department of Safeguards. Prior to that, he was Director at the Agency’s various Operational Divisions, and as inspector including at the IAEA’s overseas office in Tokyo, Japan. Dr Olli Heinonen studied radiochemistry and completed his PhD dissertation in nuclear material analysis at the University of Helsinki.

    Albums

    • RSIS Distinguished Public Lecture by Dr Olli Heinonen, RSIS Distinguished Visitor; and Senior Fellow, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University [27 Oct 2015]

    Back to top

    Terms of Use | Privacy Statement
    Copyright © S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. All rights reserved.
    This site uses cookies to offer you a better browsing experience. By continuing, you are agreeing to the use of cookies on your device as described in our privacy policy. Learn more
    OK
    Latest Book
    RSIS Distinguished Public Lecture by Dr Olli Heinonen, RSIS Distinguished Visitor; and Senior Fellow, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University

    Lecture Abstract

    The disaster in Fukus ...

    more info