It was 2008 when Russia first announced the idea of establishing a network of centers that would guarantee emergency supply of nuclear fuel. Two years later the idea materialized in the first 120-ton LEU reserve built at the International Uranium Enrichment Center (IUEC) in Angarsk, Russia. Maintained at Rosatom’s expense, the LEU reserve is under IAEA safeguards. Apart from Russia, IUEC members are Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Armenia. Other countries are free to join the project and opt for the center as an alternative source of fuel supplies instead of in-house enrichment facilities.

The Ulba Metallurgical Plant in Ust-Kamenogorsk (Kazakhstan) will become another storage site for the LEU reserve. This is where IAEA plans to maintain the LEU bank at the expense of IAEA Member States and the Nuclear Threat Initiative, a non-profit US organization. Uranium-235 to be stored in the LEU Bank in the form of hexafluoride will be enriched to 4.95%. The amount will be sufficient to fully reload a 1,000 MW reactor.

According to the agreement, Russia will ensure security and reliability of IAEA LEU transport through its territory, Yukiya Amano commented on the document. “The LEU Bank is a component of the process to guarantee nuclear fuel supplies to countries experiencing supply interruptions under their current agreements,” he said and thanked Russia for its support of the project.

The Director General stressed, “Russia is a country with the most extensive expertise in nuclear power. This segment of the Russian economy is growing.” Mr. Amano mentioned the contribution of Russian scientists and engineers into the development of technologies to be used in nuclear power of the future. He was referring particularly to the International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles (INPRO) where Russia plays a sufficient part. In addition, IAEA Director General highlighted importance of nuclear partnerships with Russia. “Russia has always been an active contributor to many IAEA programs,” concluded Mr. Amano.

“Five years have passed since we (Russian and IAEA – editor’s note) signed a milestone agreement on the establishment of the first LEU reserve at the International Uranium Enrichment Center in Angarsk,” reminded Yukiya Amano. He plans to visit the IUEC on 20 June. “I am looking forward to visiting Angarsk,” he said.