Navigating nuclear regulatory landscapes can be challenging for prospective reactor vendors. While most are aware of national safety regulators and their purpose, there are also international safeguards that must be followed. These safeguards are overseen by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and compliance is mandatory for all countries except for nuclear weapon states, which may not fully understand their importance.
For vendors looking to export advanced reactors to non-weapons state countries such as Canada, Ghana, Poland or Turkey, compliance with international regulations is crucial. Failure to adhere to these safeguards can become a dealbreaker for vendors. It is therefore important for reactor vendors, particularly those from nuclear weapon states, to understand and comply with international regulations in order to successfully export their technology to a wider range of countries.