Uranium in Poland Removed for Disposal
Thursday, August 10th 2006
The International Atomic Energy Agency said yesterday that it had completed the removal of 88 pounds of highly enriched uranium from a nuclear reactor near Warsaw and transferred the material to a secure site in Russia for disposal.
The operation, which was conducted secretly, is part of a continuing effort by American and United Nations officials to secure and recover high-risk nuclear and radiological materials around the world.
The operation began Tuesday in the research reactor at Otwock-Swierk, outside Warsaw, and was monitored by officials from the atomic energy agency as well the United States National Nuclear Security Administration. The material was transferred to Russia yesterday. A statement released by the agency said the uranium had been safely returned ”to a secure facility close to Novosibirsk.”
”The Russian facility will down-blend the fissile material to low enriched uranium that cannot be used to make a bomb,” it added.
The agency said more than 100 reactors that used weapons grade uranium were still in operation.
Source: New York Times
