The 1st Annual Meeting of Asia-Pacific Safeguards Network (APSN)

The development and advancement of nuclear science and technology encourages human civilization to move into a more advanced future. This development will have both positive and negative impacts. Therefore, these negative impacts must be anticipated immediately so that one of the anticipations of use does not bring great harm to humans. Nuclear science and technology is to consider the safeguard aspect (safety of radioactive source materials), where in 2009 a regional network was formed in the Asia Pacific region called the Asia Pacific Safeguards Network (APSN). To improve and strengthen the nuclear supervision strengthening network or safeguard issues, the first APSN meeting was held on June 2-4, 2010, APSN is currently chaired by John Carlson from the Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office (ASNO). The event was opened by the Indonesian Minister of State for Research and Technology, H.E. Suharna Surapranata and attended by the Head of Bapeten Dr. As Natio Lasman, Head of Batan Dr. Hudi Hastowo, representative of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and representatives from Australia, PRC, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, United States, Canada, Russia and New Zealand. The meeting held at the Santika Bali Hotel was attended by 26 participants.

In his remarks, the Indonesian Minister of State for Research and Technology hoped that this event could be a source of inspiration in conducting discussions to answer regional and global challenges in building and developing a network infrastructure for cooperation on the use of safe and peaceful nuclear technology in the Asia-Pacific region because nuclear energy is one of the primary energy sources as an alternative to meet increasing energy needs in the future.

To implement these safeguards starting from our respective countries, this APSN network is expected to be a supporting factor to strengthen the existence and effectiveness of the implementation of international treaties or conventions, exchange information in the field of safeguards including physical protection specifically for ASEAN, especially in relation to Nuclear Power Plants.