Creating bank of low-enriched uranium in Kazakhstan does not involve any import of radioactive waste - Foreign Minister Idrissov

About the stages of the negotiation process, the prospects of this project, its economic and political advantages to the country told Foreign Minister Yerlan Idrissov in the interview with "Express K" newspaper (by Sergey Vasiliev, № 58 (17658) on 04.04.2013, "Nuclear All-or-Nothing Game").

- When did the idea of creating international reserves of nuclear fuel start up? What is the primary purpose of the project to establish the nuclear fuel bank in Kazakhstan? Will this contribute to the strengthening of security in the world?

- The idea of a nuclear fuel bank originated in the last century due to the increase in the number of countries that have conducted their own development in the nuclear field. Considerable effort was made to develop technology to produce nuclear fuel, which would be protected from being used for military purposes. One of the options for nuclear fuel nuclear power was the establishment of an international pool of such fuel.

In 2006 the American Foundation called "Initiative of the Nuclear Threat» (Nuclear Threat Initiative) has proposed the establishment of international nuclear fuel bank under IAEA auspices, aimed at the establishment of a mechanism to guarantee international nuclear fuel supply to the states to meet their commitments on non-proliferation. That is, the countries having and seeking no technology of nuclear fuel, could be provided with them from the bank.

May 27, 2011 the agency issued a tender to choose the country in which the bank could accommodate. July 29, 2011 Kazakhstan sent a request to place the bank with all necessary information about the two sites at the Ulba Metallurgical Plant in Kurchatov. In March 2012, the states - members of the Agency were informed that, following the open competition Kazakhstan is the only country - a candidate for the placement of the bank on its territory. In May of 2012 there was the visit of the delegation of the IAEA to Ust-Kamenogorsk and Astana. From July 2012 to March 2013, a total of seven rounds of negotiations were held to discuss the agency prepared draft agreement between the IAEA and Kazakhstan on the establishment of the Bank of low-enriched uranium in Kazakhstan. The negotiation process has not been completed and it is expected that then agreement will be reached by the end of 2013.

Creating a guaranteed reserve of low-enriched uranium would allow countries that do not have and are not seeking to establish uranium enrichment, the guarantee against sudden disruptions of supply of nuclear fuel. In turn, these countries are not concerned with the search for alternative sources of supply, including through the black market in uranium products, and will not be faced with the need to create their own complete cycle of uranium production. Thus, the establishment of the bank will not only balance the global nuclear fuel market, but also will enhance international security and will allow to avoid unrestricted proliferation of sensitive nuclear technology.

Additional provision of low-enriched uranium under the auspices of the IAEA will assist all states to obtain guaranteed access to nuclear fuel. It does not in any way affect the legitimate and inalienable right of each state - a member of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons on the development of peaceful nuclear activities, in compliance with the provisions of totality of the contract and the requirements of the IAEA. The states that wish to enrich themselves will be able to do it with all the rules and requirements of the IAEA.

- What sources are funding creation of the bank?

- Funding for this project in the amount of about $ 150 million transferred to the IAEA, is made up of voluntary contributions from a number of countries and organizations. Nuclear Threat Initiative Fund transferred $ 50 million, Norway - $ 5 million, the U.S. - 49,540,000 dollars, UAE - $ 10 million, the EU - up to 25 million euros and Kuwait - $ 10 million. At current market prices, the amount of 150 million dollars will be enough to buy about 60-80 tons of low-enriched uranium and deliver it to the location of the bank of the IAEA in the host country. It was assumed that the annual costs of running the agency of the bank will depend on several factors, such as the cost of storage, and the cost of security and physical protection.

Transaction costs can be covered as a contribution of the host country in kind, extra-budgetary support from other countries or through the regular budget of the IAEA.

- Why is Kazakhstan the most suitable candidate for the placement of the bank?

- Serious factors contributes to that. First, stable social and political situation in the country and the foreign policy of a balanced state, providing the necessary level of confidence on the part of the participants. Second, Kazakhstan has very fruitful cooperation with the IAEA and has a positive image in the field of strengthening the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, that guarantees political support for the project. Third, we have developed a system of export controls, legal and regulatory framework to address the issues of licensing, storage, transport and export of nuclear materials. Fourth, there are areas in the country that meet the requirements of long-term storage of nuclear materials that meet the conditions to ensure their physical security, as well as under the IAEA safeguards. Fifth is the presence of an industrial enterprise with the necessary technology, personnel and expertise in the nuclear fuel cycle. And finally, the sixth is the participation of Kazakhstan in the International Uranium Enrichment Center in Angarsk in Russia, allowing the use of facilities for the enrichment center stored in bank stocks of low-enriched uranium.

- Won't Kazakhstan be the object of terrorism?

- As for terrorism in the first place it must be emphasized that in theory any state can be under the threat of terrorism. It is also important to note that the low-enriched uranium is not attractive material for terrorists. In principle, this is a possession of small amounts of low-enriched uranium. At the same time, the system of physical protection of the company is strong enough, it has repeatedly received high marks from both the IAEA and by independent experts, and they are estimated superior to similar systems in the leading countries of the world. Multilevel system of physical protection in principle excludes access to nuclear materials intruders even in case of a direct terrorist attack. In addition, our country has a well-organized system of export controls, which provides close monitoring of any movement of sensitive products, which clearly include nuclear materials.

- Can we abandon this project?

- Yes, we can. In this case, the IAEA reissues the tender, and the bank will be located in another country. However, given the above direct and indirect economic policy dividends, refusing to deploy the bank would appear unreasonable.

- What is the way to reduce the effect of nuclear phobia in society?

- I think there is need for the public to be aware of the nuclear issues. Atoms for Peace under normal use are not at risk, peaceful atom is widely used in many countries, including Kazakhstan, which is in the leadership as for the global uranium production. And the quality of the management of nuclear materials in our country has been repeatedly praised by the IAEA. And one of the evidence of this is the decision to place the bank's low-enriched uranium in Kazakhstan.