Photo IAEA/D. Kalma IAEA headquarters in Vienna. The IAEA helped transport highly enriched nuclear fuel from Venezuela to the United States Peace and Security
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) played a key role in the successful operation to transport highly enriched uranium from Venezuela to the United States. It was carefully planned and took place under increased security measures. Such nuclear materials could pose a nuclear proliferation or security risk if they fall into the wrong hands.
An example of international cooperation
The complex operation involved three countries – Great Britain, the USA and Venezuela, as well as the IAEA. They coordinated closely to ensure the safe transport of 13 kilograms of highly enriched uranium by land and sea from South America to North America.
“This operation was an example of strong political will, effective coordination, dedication and professionalism of all participants,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi. “…we have demonstrated how effective partnerships can address the risks of nuclear proliferation and strengthen global nuclear security,” said the US Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control Nonproliferation Christopher Yo.
Uranium in the form of nuclear fuel, enriched to just above 20 percent uranium-235 content, was removed from the shutdown research reactor of the Venezuelan Institute of Scientific Research, located 15 kilometers southwest of Caracas, and delivered to Savannah River Site of the US Department of Energy in the state of South Carolina.
The role of the IAEA
As part of the cooperation, the IAEA provided recommendations on nuclear and physical safety, helped with personnel training and technical expertise. Agency experts monitored the situation throughout the operation.
In recent decades, the IAEA has supported international efforts to remove highly enriched uranium from research reactors around the world to reduce proliferation risks associated with the use of high-grade fuel enrichment.
During its operation, the Venezuelan reactor used nuclear fuel of both American and British origin. After the completion of the real mission, there was no more fuel left at the facility.The Venezuelan government asked the IAEA to facilitate the removal of the remaining fuel from the country, and the US government agreed to accept the material and provide a special shipping container for delivery to the Savannah River Site, which allowed the start of a high-security operation. April, a convoy guarded by the Venezuelan military left the port city of Puerto Cabello at night, where a container with fuel was loaded onto a British ship. The ship immediately set sail for the United States and in early May arrived safely at the Savannah River Site.
New technologies
Most research reactors were built in 1960s and 1970s using technologies that required highly enriched uranium for scientific experiments. Today, much of this research can be done using low-enriched uranium, which contains less than 20 percent uranium-235. To date, 111 research reactors and medical isotope production facilities have been converted from high-enriched uranium to low-enriched uranium or permanently closed. More than 6,930 kilograms of highly enriched uranium were removed from dozens of countries and returned to their countries of origin or otherwise disposed of. Nuclear power plants that produce electricity use low-enriched uranium.