The United States on Wednesday unveiled a plan to stop terrorists getting material for radioactive ”dirty bombs” and to stem the risk of nuclear proliferation, announcing a $450-million programme to repatriate nuclear fuel scattered around the globe.
In a speech at the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, the US energy secretary, Spencer Abraham, laid out a six-year timetable for recovering uranium fuel from research reactors supplied by the US and the former Soviet Union.
Abraham is to travel to Moscow today to sign an agreement with the Russian atomic energy ministry, under which Washington is to finance the repatriation to Russia of uranium fuel from 20 research reactors in 17 countries. The fuel, much of it weapons-grade or easily refined for use in a nuclear device, is to be stored in Russia and blended down.
With experts, diplomats, and governments assuming that it is merely a matter of time before terrorists obtain a ”dirty bomb” — a conventional bomb laced with radioactive material — the plan is also to target lower grade radiological instruments commonly used in medicine, agriculture and science.
The initiative is part of a strategy emerging from the Bush administration aimed at curbing nuclear proliferation and preventing so-called rogue states or terrorist groups obtaining nuclear weapons. Abraham said the priority was to recover 300 tons of high enriched uranium and have it stored in Russia by the end of next year.
Over the past 18 months the Russians and the Americans have cooperated quietly to send back nuclear materials to Russia from Serbia, Bulgaria, and Romania.
”An even more comprehensive and urgently focused effort is needed to respond to emerging and evolving threats,” Abraham said.
Despite the regular tensions between Washington and the IAEA over international nuclear policy, the agency’s chief, Mohammed El Baradei, welcomed the US move as a ”major initiative.” – Guardian Unlimited Â