New Global Nuclear Security Institute Formed

Daniel Arnaudo

On Sept. 29, former Senator Sam Nunn (D-Ga.), the co-chairman of the private Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), announced the creation of the World Institute for Nuclear Security (WINS), which would bring together nuclear technicians, security personnel, governments, and international organizations to foster better security practices at nuclear facilities worldwide.

The NTI and the Department of Energy have each committed $3 million to the organization, while the government of Norway has pledged $100,000 to begin to bring personnel from developing countries into the program. The NTI grant comes in large part from funds supplied by a private foundation headed by former Secretary of Commerce Peter G. Peterson.

In order to better coordinate its activities with those of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), WINS will be based in Vienna. IAEA Director-General Mohamed ElBaradei offered his endorsement of the new organization in a Sept. 29 NTI press release: “As the full support of nuclear operators is key to effective nuclear security, I am confident that establishing a forum to help share and promote best practices amongst them will improve nuclear security.” In the same remarks, he also expressed confidence that WINS would “contribute to and complement” the IAEA’s work to establish international norms and guidelines for a global nuclear security regime.

The organization will be headed by Roger Howsley, previously the director for security, safeguards and international affairs at British Nuclear Fuels, the now defunct organization that once operated the United Kingdom’s nuclear plants. Howsley will report to an international board of directors and a membership made up of the operators and other officials in the governments and nuclear security structures of IAEA member states.

The model for WINS is the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO), which the private sector created in the aftermath of the Chernobyl accident to improve nuclear safety. In his remarks announcing the creation of WINS, Nunn said that the world could not afford a “security Chernobyl” and that the new organization would focus on securing nuclear installations as WANO has focused on ensuring their safe operations.

Members will share information about best practices for personnel at nuclear facilities, such as methods of preventing sophisticated attacks and techniques for keeping staff vigilant and coordinated for optimum security at vulnerable sites.

At first, WINS will work to improve security practices at sites that house plutonium and highly enriched uranium, which can be used to provide fuel for nuclear power plants and as fissile material in nuclear weapons. The institute will then expand to other radiological and civilian nuclear sites worldwide. If WINS develops according to its goals, within the next two to five years its backers expect its $6 million annual budget to rise to roughly $8 million to support an expanded association of operators.