GOI SAYS RECOVERED URANIUM IS DEPLETED, NOT HIGHLY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 001076

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/02/2015
TAGS: KNNP PGOV PREL TRGY IN
SUBJECT: GOI SAYS RECOVERED URANIUM IS DEPLETED, NOT HIGHLY
ENRICHED

Classified By: PolCouns Geoff Pyatt for Reasons 1.5 (B,D)


1. (SBU) Summary: On February 5, the "Times of India" ran a
hysterical story that metal plates recovered from two
"small-time drug peddlers" on December 8, 2004 were analyzed
and found to be weapons-grade highly enriched uranium.
Subsequent reporting, including a press release from India's
Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB),claimed the material
was only depleted uranium (DU) with no significant radiation
hazard. The head of AERB's Operating Plants Safety Division
(OPSD) assured SciOff that the material was DU, and described
identifying markings on the plates. Action request for DOE;
paragraph 5. End Summary.


2. (U) The "Times" article entitled "2 held with
weapons-grade uranium in Bareilly" reported that metal plates
recovered from two small time drug peddlers were sent to the
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) for examination, and
were determined to be 253.6 grams of HEU containing 99
percent (weapons-grade) uranium-235. The article further
reported that senior police sources did not rule out the
possibility that the uranium had come from an atomic facility
at Narora in Bulandshahr district (Uttar Pradesh),and that
the arrested persons were carrying a list of other substances
with specific industrial uses including 92U, 26Fe, 14SI,
28NI, and 29CU.


3. (SBU) In a February 5 conversation, R. Venkataraman, head
of OPSD at India's AERB, asserted to SciOff that:

- The material was not/not enriched uranium, but was DU meant
to shield radiological sources;
- It was not/not from the Indian atomic power station in
Narora;
- BARC believes it was imported; likely from a scrap yard; and
- GOI would issue a detailed press release.


4. (U) On February 5, AERB released the following statement,
which corroborates Mr. Venkataraman's comments:

Begin text:

Uranium Piece Does Not Pose Any Security Threat Or Health
Hazard

This is with reference to the news item titled "2 held with
bomb-ready uranium" that has appeared in a section of the
press on February 5, 2005. In this connection, AERB would
like to clarify the situation.

Taking note of the media report about the recovery of a
uranium bar that appeared in a Varanasi newspaper in
mid-December, AERB contacted the Senior Superintendent of
Police, Bareilly for details of the case. He was also
requested to send the piece to Bhabha Atomic Research Centre
(BARC) for testing. The report of the analysis carried out
by BARC has confirmed that the piece is of depleted uranium.
This material contains very low concentration of fissile
uranium (about 0.21% of Uranium-235) and cannot be used for
producing a bomb. As such the piece does not pose any
security threat.

The piece also does not pose any significant radiation/health
hazard as the radiation dose on the piece is negligible.

Such pieces of depleted uranium, being a heavy material, are
generally used as shielding material in imported industrial
radiography cameras, radiotherapy units used in hospitals or
as counterweight in aircraft. There have been instances in
the past when such pieces have been found in scrap yards.

The piece is now in the custody of AERB.

End text.


5. (C) In a February 9 conversation with Mr. Venkataraman,
SciOff obtained a verbal description of the recovered
material as follows:

- Two metal pieces of aircraft balance weight with "holes for
an allen wrench";
- Both had "NH Inc." and "Unauthorized Adjustment Prohibited"
inscribed on them.

AERB officials speculate that the material entered India as
scrap, and would like to learn who the manufacturer was.
Mission would be grateful for any DOE advice in this regard.

Comment
--------------


6. (C) Subsequent press reporting has mostly mirrored the
AERB release, although the author of the original "Times"
article asserted in a follow-up piece that Bareilly police
are still concerned that "the seized metal piece is
radiating." At this stage we are confident this is a case
where a journalist's lack of scientific understanding led to
premature and inaccurate reporting.
MULFORD