The IAEA Low Enriched Uranium (LEU) Bank
The IAEA Low Enriched Uranium (LEU) Bank is a physical reserve of up to 90 metric tons of low enriched uranium suitable for making fuel for a typical light-water reactor, which is the most common type of nuclear reactor. Located on the territory of "Ulba Metallurgical Plant "JSC in Ust-Kamenogorsk Republic of Kazakhstan.
History[edit]
19 September, 2006, former US Senator Sam Nunn announced The Nuclear Threat Initiative’s (NTI) $50 million contribution from Warren Buffett to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to create a LEU stockpile to support nations that make the sovereign choice not to build indigenous nuclear fuel cycle capabilities:.[1].
3 December, 2010, IAEA Board of Governors approved establishment of the IAEA LEU Bank.
27 August, 2015, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan hosted the ceremony of signing of documents between Kazakhstan and the IAEA on the establishment of the IAEA Low-Enriched Uranium Bank in the Republic of Kazakhstan [2].
31 January, 2017, Host Country Agreement entered into force [3].
Facility launch event in Astana[edit]
The official opening ceremony of IAEA LEU Bank Facility at the Ulba Metallurgical Plant was held on August 29, 2017 in Astana and coincided with the International Day against Nuclear Tests.
President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev participated in the ceremony and handed over to the IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano the symbolic keys of IAEA LEU Bank Facility [4].
Control, use, transit of LEU[edit]
LEU will be under the control and in the official legal possession of the IAEA and will be used in the event that any country - a member of the IAEA will not be able to receive fuel from a traditional supplier or in case the supply of LEU to a nuclear power plant is disrupted due to exceptional circumstances.
As LEU does not deteriorate it can be safely stored over the medium - to long-term. LEU does not have any adverse environmental impact when properly stored in certified 30B steel cylinders, in accordance with standard nuclear industry practice[5].
For over 60 years, Ulba Metallurgical Plant has been safely and securely handling and storing nuclear materials, including LEU. Safety and security of the IAEA LEU Bank is governed by Kazakhstan’s legal and regulatory requirements, and meets the applicable provisions of the IAEA’s safety standards and security guidance documents. The IAEA LEU Bank will also be subject to IAEA safeguards pursuant to Kazakhstan’s Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and Additional Protocol with the IAEA [6].
Transportation of LEU in 30B steel cylinders will be carried out through the territory of the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China. On June 18, 2015, Russia and the IAEA signed the Agreement on the transit through the territory of Russia LEU for the needs of nuclear energy, its implementation will ensure the possibility of supply of this substance to the IAEA LEU Bank and back to the states entitled to such supplies [7]. On April 12, 2017, China and the IAEA signed a transit agreement for the transport of LEU in support of the IAEA LEU Bank. Under the agreement, China will ensure the safe and secure transit of LEU and equipment through Chinese territory to and from the IAEA LEU Bank [8]
Funding[edit]
Donors have provided a total of US $150 million to establish the IAEA LEU Bank and operate the Bank for at least 10 years.[9]
- "Nuclear Threat Initiative" - $ 50 million
- United States of America - $ 49.5 million
- The European Union - up to 25 million euro (including up to 5 million euros for security)
- United Arab Emirates - $ 10 million
- The State of Kuwait - $ 10 million
- Kingdom of Norway - $ 5 million
- Republic of Kazakhstan - $ 400,000 in addition to Kazakhstan’s in-kind contribution to host the IAEA LEU Bank
References[edit]
- ↑ "NTI Commits $50 Million to create IAEA Nuclear Fuel Bank - NTI News NTI Commits $50 Million to create IAEA Nuclear Fuel Bank - NTI". www.nti.org. line feed character in
|title=at position 126 (help) - ↑ http://mfa.gov.kz/en/content-view/agreement-on-establishing-the-iaea-low-enriched-uranium-bank-signed-in-astana
- ↑ http://www.nti.org/media/documents/NTI_LEU_Story_Nov17.pdf?_=1510940071
- ↑ "Participation in the opening ceremony of the IAEA Bank of Low Enriched Uranium building — Official site of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan".
- ↑ http://www.atomicreporters.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Astana_AEA-LEU-BANK-29Aug2017_RAUF_AR.pdf
- ↑ https://www.iaea.org/sites/default/files/factsheet_eng.pdf
- ↑ https://www.iaea.org/sites/default/files/iaea_and_russia_sign_transit_agreement_for_iaea_fuel_bank.pdf
- ↑ "News".
- ↑ https://www.nti.org/media/documents/NTI_LEU_Donor_Table.pdf
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