US ships weapons-grade uranium to France

Reports say the super-potent consignment, weighing more than 180 kilograms, was recently delivered by sea under an export license approved by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Due to its high enrichment — more than 93 percent U-235 — the special nuclear material could potentially be converted into nuclear weapons.

“The material was recently delivered,” said US national Nuclear Security Administration spokesman Steven Wyatt, quoted by US-based Knoxnews.com.

Wyatt, however, declined to elaborate on how or when the uranium was transported, saying that “details are sensitive and/or classified.”

French media reports, however quote the Green Peace Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) as harshly criticized the sea transport of the 93-percent enriched uranium, emphasizing that even 75-percent enriched uranium is sufficient to produce an atomic bomb.

Western regulatory officials have reportedly claimed that the delivery is to be used for fuel in a high-performance research reactor near the city of Grenoble in southeastern France.

However, due to its high enrichment – more than 93 percent – the special nuclear material could potentially be converted into nuclear weapons.

MSH/MB

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