Dr. Norziana Jamil

Nuclear Non-proliferation: Demonstration of DLT/Blockchain technology to support the efficient handling of nuclear non-proliferation assurances

The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) plays an important role in ensuring that nuclear materials, equipment, and technology transferred internationally comply with nuclear non-proliferation obligations. At present, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Assurances (NNPAs) process involves multiple layers of paper-based documentation and inter-agency coordination, which can take several months to complete.

This creates delays for nuclear operators and can affect the efficiency of projects requiring timely international transfers. To address this challenge, FANR has initiated a transformational project to digitize the NNPA process. Phase 1 successfully introduced domestic online workflows between operators, FANR, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Our proposed project (Phase 2) will extend this digital transformation to the international level by exploring Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), also known as blockchain, to create a secure, transparent, and efficient system for handling NNPAs. The main objectives of our project are: 1) To validate the feasibility of using DLT to manage NNPAs in a secure digital environment. 2) To design and develop a working prototype system that connects domestic and international workflows. 3) To demonstrate that the NNPA process timeline can be reduced from months to days through automation and secure data exchange. 4) To build international partnerships and strengthen FANR’s global leadership in applying advanced technologies for nuclear regulation. Our project is hoped to directly support FANR’s regulatory mandate by advancing the assurance process, improving efficiency and ensuring compliance with international nuclear obligations. By reducing NNPA processing times, the outcome of this project will help minimize operational delays for the nuclear industry and enhance transparency, security, and trust among international partners.