The United States and partners have completed the removal of excess highly enriched uranium (HEU) from Venezuela’s shuttered RV-1 research reactor.
The accelerated mission was conducted in collaboration with Venezuela, the United Kingdom, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The RV-1 was originally built for the South American nation’s scientific research and later repurposed for gamma-ray sterilization of medical supplies, food, and other materials.
The enriched uranium was packaged by the Venezuelan authorities last month, transported by the U.K., and arrived at the Savannah River Site in Aiken, South Carolina, in early May.
Washington acknowledged the IAEA’s technical support for the operation, saying it builds on the agency’s partnership with the U.S. and other member states to reduce nuclear risks globally.
“By leading the removal of dangerous nuclear material from Venezuela, the United States is safer and has strengthened nuclear security worldwide,” the State Department readout notes.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has now removed or confirmed the disposition of over 7,340 kilograms of weapons-usable nuclear material.
The expertise of the NNSA and the Bureau of Arms Control and Nonproliferation ensured the U.S. achieved the nuclear security milestone in a matter of months, two years ahead of schedule.