By Matt Hurley for the TIB Network:
Source:Yet another Global Threat Reduction Initiative (GTRI) mission was successfully carried out in secret. Approximately 11 kilograms of enriched uranium nuclear fuel, including highly enriched uranium, were loaded into two specialized transportation containers provided by the Russian Federation. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards inspectors and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) technical experts were present in Uzbekistan to monitor the process of loading the fuel into the canisters.
"The recovery, return and eventual elimination of this highly enriched uranium are an important milestone in our campaign to reduce this dangerous material worldwide," Secretary Abraham said. "It was only with the strong cooperation of the Uzbeks and Russians that we were able to successfully complete this important international security mission."The highly enriched uranium was airlifted under guard from an airport near Tashkent, Uzbekistan to a secured facility in Dmitrovgrad, Russia. There, the uranium will be down-blended to low enriched uranium.
The nuclear fuel assemblies were originally supplied to Uzbekistan for use in the Russian-designed 10 megawatt VVR-SM multi-purpose research reactor, located near the Uzbekistan capital, Tashkent.
This is the fifth successful shipment of uranium being returned to Russia. In the past year, DOE has repatriated a total of 48 kg of HEU fuel to Russia from Romania, Bulgaria and Libya. And, in August 2002, 48 kg of Russian-origin HEU were repatriated from a research reactor near Belgrade, Serbia.
Next week, Abraham said the United States and Russia will be hosting more than 300 participants at the GTRI International Partners' Conference. The International Partners' Conference will focus international attention on efforts to secure vulnerable nuclear and radiological material that pose a threat to the international community.
Matt's Chat
I particularly like this quote from Sec. Abraham:"The Bush Administration continues to take the lead in implementing nonproliferation programs to benefit the international community," Secretary Abraham said. "I applaud the efforts of Uzbekistan for its cooperation with the United States, Russian Federation, and the IAEA under the Global Threat Reduction Initiative to reduce the threat of nuclear proliferation by returning HEU to Russia."It isn't about money/funding. It is about results. And always should have been...
"Our Administration has realized significant nonproliferation accomplishments including the breakup of the A.Q. Khan network and Libya's decision to give-up its nuclear weapons program and work with us to remove its equipment," Abraham said.
