Washington, April 14: On the margins of the Nuclear Security Summit, the US, Canada and Mexico reached an agreement to work together, along with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to eliminate the use of highly enriched uranium in a Mexican research reactor.
“The strong commitment of Mexico to prevent and suppress nuclear terrorism; with this kind of cooperation with the IAEA and our North American partners, we definitely contribute to reducing the risks associated with illicit trafficking of nuclear materials,” the Mexican President, Felipe Calderon Hinojosa, said in a statement.
In a statement, the White House said the three countries acknowledged that this project is an important step in support of Mexico’s nuclear energy development.
The conversion of the reactor’s use of highly enriched uranium (HEU) to low enriched uranium (LEU) fuel will enable the elimination of all the remaining highly enriched uranium from Mexico, the White House said.
“This effort, a specific outcome of Nuclear Security Summit, will be completed under the auspices of the IAEA. It will further strengthen nuclear security on the North American continent,” it said.
“I welcome this critical step forward, which is a signal of our strong trilateral partnership, and our shared commitment to nuclear security in North America,” the US President, Barack Obama said.
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said: “This nuclear security project demonstrates that collective action can deliver concrete results”.
This decision to eliminate the remaining highly enriched uranium reaffirms Mexico’s leadership in nuclear security and nonproliferation and serves as an example for other nations to follow, the White House said.
–PTI