The head of the atomic energy organization, Rafael Grossi, noted that the barrels of the substance were stored in a place that is no longer controlled by the local government, so no one can answer where they have gone now.
In Libya, at least 2.5 tons of natural uranium disappeared without a trace from the test site, and no one can answer the question of how this happened. About it writes portal Reuters.
The IAEA nuclear safety inspectors discovered that one of the Libyan test sites lacks about 2.5 tons of uranium, which was almost immediately stated in a confidential letter by the head of the organization, Rafael Grossi, to the member countries of the organization.
The IAEA notes that it was stored at facilities that are no longer controlled by the local government. Absolutely all the barrels disappeared from there, and no one knows where they are now.
Initially, the verification of the uranium storage site was supposed to be carried out in 2022, but due to the dangerous situation in Libya, it was decided to choose a different date. As a result, it took place on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. On that day, the incident became known.
“During an inspection on Tuesday, International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors “found that 10 drums containing approximately 2.5 tons of natural uranium in the form of UOC (uranium ore concentrate), previously declared (by Libya – ed.), were not present on site “, Rafael Grossi wrote in a statement.
Lack of information about the current location of uranium poses not only a radiation risk, but can also lead to problems with nuclear safety. The IAEA has pledged to find out what really happened.
Recall that on February 20, uranium enriched to 84% purity was discovered in Iran. IAEA inspectors noted that its purity is only 6% below the level required to create nuclear weapons. Now the organization is trying to find out how Iranian specialists were able to clean uranium to such a level.
