China And IAEA Sign Transit Agreement For LEU Bank In Kazakhstan

11 Apr (NucNet): China and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have signed an agreement on the transit of low-enriched uranium (LEU) in support of the IAEA LEU bank, a statement said. Under the agreement, China will ensure the safe transit of LEU through Chinese territory to and from the LEU bank, which has been under construction in neighbouring Kazakhstan since August 2016, the IAEA said. In August 2015, the IAEA and Kazakhstan signed a legal framework agreement for the establishment of the LEU bank at the Ulba Metallurgical Plant in northern Kazakhstan. The bank will be a physical reserve of up to 90 tonnes of LEU and is intended to provide IAEA member states with a stable supply of fuel even if other supply mechanisms are disrupted. IAEA director-general Yukiya Amano said the agreement with China is a milestone which will help bring the LEU bank into operation.