Novel Approaches. Chemical Weapons Destruction Conference. London May 2016

Transcription

1 Novel Approaches Chemical Weapons Destruction Conference London May 2016 Lynn Hoggins Senior Chemical Demilitarisation Officer Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons

2 Principles and Methods for Destruction of CW Conversion in an irreversible way to a form unsuitable for production of CW, and which in an irreversible manner renders munitions and other devices usuable as such Each SP shall determine how it shall destroy CW, except that the following processes may not be used: Dumping in any body of water Land burial Open-pit burning

3 Principles and Methods for Destruction of CW It shall destroy CW only at specifically designated and appropriately designed and equipped facilities. Part IV (A) C Most common destruction methods: Neutralisation Incineration

4 Why Other Destruction Methods? Local security situation Timeframe Location of CW Physical condition of CW

5 Encapsulation Al Muthana (IRAQ) Bunker 13 hit by an aerial bomb during the Gulf War Bunker contains NaCN, KCN, AsCl3, containers formerly filled with tabun and partially destroyed rockets Entry into bunker would expose personnel to explosive, chemical, and physical hazards Security situation in Iraq remains unstable = Need to secure and destroy items in Bunker 13

6 Encapsulation

7 Encapsulation Drilling of small (monitoring cameras) and big holes (pumping of concrete) in the bunker Additional holes to release gasses while concrete is pumped Wet OGTS for the treatment of the released gasses Two types of concrete: Foam concrete for the first layers (high flow characteristics) Portland concrete

8 Field Destruction Field recovered CW Explosive risk Combat situation Some OCW countries apply field destruction methods, explosive detonation (5 to 1) and vent to atmosphere, on an exceptional base. Between 2003 and 2008, the UK and US applied field destruction methods to destroy recovered Iraqi CW (prior to Iraq s accession to the CWC)

9 Bituminization Shchuch ye CWDF (RF) Two-stage destruction process: Agent is detoxified/neutralized by adding organic chemical reagent Reaction mass (<1%) is mixed with petroleum asphalt and solidified Bitumen salt mass collection tanks

10 Dilution Isopropanol was destroyed in 2014 in Syria by diluting it with water to an agreed upon level. Isopropanol was destroyed in 2015 in Libya by diluting it with water to an agreed upon level.

11 Cementation Libya destroyed inorganic salts (Sodium sulfide (Na2S2) and Sodium fluoride (NaF) declared as Cat 2 CW by cementation Batch process: mixing salts with Portland cement, sand, gravel and water Italy immobilised neutralised HD-PD mixture in concrete and used a similar approach for the as ACW declared Adamsite

12 Remote Verification Remote verification is often done when an inspection team can t be deployed due to the security situation May consist of: Video-recording of various steps of destruction process including collection of samples prior to and after destruction Review ex post facto of these recordings and other records documenting the destruction activities Transfer of samples to the OPCW Lab and or designated labaratories for analysis

13 Remote Verification Advanced equipment: Satellite imagery GPS trackers Sealed cameras Real time recording and viewing

14 Sea Dumped Munitions No requirement to declare sea-dumped CW dumped prior 1 January 1985 For any recovered CW, OCW or ACW the intent of the CWC is clear. The weapons should be declared, verified and destroyed in accordance with the CWC

15 Working together for a world free of chemical weapons