Joint effort sees research reactor fuel removed from Venezuela

The USA, Venezuela, the UK and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) worked closely together in the operation to transport the cargo of 13 kilograms of high-enriched uranium (HEU) from the shut-down RV-1 research reactor at the Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Research, 15 km southwest of the capital Caracas, to the US Department of Energy (DOE) Savannah River Site in South Carolina, where the DOE Office of Environmental Management took custody of the material. The carefully planned joint mission was carried out under tight security, with the IAEA continuing to apply safeguards to the nuclear material throughout the process.

The HEU was removed from the reactor less than six weeks after an initial site visit by a team from the DOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation. Working in close cooperation with the IAEA throughout, the team securely packaged the uranium into a US-supplied spent fuel cask. This was transported more than 100 miles (160 km) by road - with protection from the Venezuelan military - to the port town of Puerto Cabello, where the cargo was transferred to a specialised carrier supplied by Nuclear Transport Solutions of the UK for shipment by sea to the USA. The casks were then transported Savannah River for processing and reuse, arriving in early May.

"This has been an example of the strong will, effective coordination, dedication and professionalism of all the parties involved," IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said.

_{(Images: NNSA)}

The RV-1 reactor operated for three decades until 1991 using fuel supplied by both the USA and the UK. Like most research reactors built in the 1960s and 70s, it required HEU - uranium enriched to contain more than 20% of the fissile uranium-235 isotope - to perform its research function. However, HEU is also seen as a proliferation risk and a security threat. These older research reactors are now being converted to use low-enriched fuel (LEU), or shut down, with used and unused HEU fuel secured and downblended.

According to the IAEA, 111 research reactors and medical isotope production facilities around the world have so far been converted to use LEU or confirmed as being shut down, with more than 6930 kilograms of HEU repatriated to their country of origin or otherwise dispositioned.

Most of the HEU fuel supplied to these research reactors came from Russia and the USA, and those countries have been leaders in initiatives to deal with the issue.

"I couldn’t be prouder of the men and women who carried out this vital mission," Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation Deputy Administrator Matt Napoli said. "NNSA’s long history in removing nuclear material and the team's extensive know-how were key to this success. I would also like to extend my appreciation to our Venezuelan partners for finalising this material removal and establishing the foundation for future cooperation."