TUWAITHA YELLOW CAKE AND AMMONIUM NITRATE

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 002433 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/20/2017 TAGS: ECON ENRG IZ PREL SUBJECT: TUWAITHA YELLOW CAKE AND AMMONIUM NITRATE REF: A. STATE 97064 ¶B. STATE 97039 Classified By: ECONOMIC MINISTER CHARLES P. RIES FOR REASONS 1. 4(B) AN D (D) ¶1. (C). SUMMARY: Embassy officials recently attended two meetings to discuss issues associated with the Tuwaitha site. The first meeting was held on July 18, with the Minister of Science and Technology and the second meeting was held on July 19, with Amb. Srood R. Najib. Meeting topics included the presence of large quantities of ammonium nitrate at the Tuwaitha site and the progress being made toward the removal of the natural uranium (yellow cake) and four high-activity radioactive sources from the site. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C). On July 18, the Energy Attach and embassy officials met with Minister of Science and Technology Ra,id Fahmi Jahid to discuss a number of issues including the placement of concertina wire and new cement barriers at Tuwaitha,s Site C by coalition forces. We also discussed providing upgraded radio communication systems to the security forces at the site. Minister Jahid approved the placement of cement barriers in front of and behind the existing steel gate entryway, the placement of new concertina wire at certain locations around the site and the provision of new radios to the security forces guarding the site. He requested to be kept informed of the progress of this work. ¶3. (C). A member of the Minister,s senior staff also requested that flood lights and monitoring cameras be placed around Site C, and concertina wire be placed atop the levy immediately adjacent to the road in front of the site. ¶4. (C). During the meeting, Minister Jahid raised the issue of the ammonium nitrate located in various areas at the Tuwaitha site. He mentioned, in particular that he had spoken with the Prime Minister regarding this material and was in favor of removing it. The Minister expressed no particular disposal pathway for the material. Energy Attache informed him, however, that the effort to address issues associated with the ammonium nitrate would be separate from the effort to remove the yellow cake and four high-activity radioactive sources from the site. ¶5. (C). After the conclusion of the meeting, Energy Attach met with Mr. Mohammed Jawad Al-Share,, who is also a member of the Prime Minister,s Tuwaitha committee. Al-Share, stated that there were approximately 137 tons of ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) contained in 554 barrels located in three different areas at Tuwaitha, outside, but within the Site C perimeter (Note: During a recent site visit, Energy Attach was unable to observe any yellow barrels typically used to contain the NH4NO3 within the Site C perimeter. End Note.), at Bunker B, and at the RWTS building. He also stated that this material was contaminated with 372 kilograms of natural uranium (approximately .3% of the total volume of NH4NO3). Al-Share, noted that, because of the contamination, the NH4NO3 was subject to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards control. ¶6. (C). Al-Share, also stated that Dr. Mousa Jaffar al-Atia, another member of the committee and chairman of the Iraqi Radioactive Source Regulatory Authority had contacted four companies to interest them in the purchase of the yellow cake. These four companies included Areva NP (French), British Nuclear Fuels plc, Edlow International Company, and another U.S. company whose name he could not remember. He also stated that meetings with these companies had not yet been scheduled. (Reftel A) Al-Share, expressed apprehension that IAEA processes would prevent the expeditious sale and transfer of the yellow cake to the purchaser. (Note: Al-Share' also noted that the recently adopted United Nations Security Council Resolution 1762 invited Iraq present a report to the Security Council within one year on Iraq,s progress in adhering to all applicable disarmament and non-proliferation treaties and related international agreements. End Note.) ¶7. (C). On July 19, Ambassador Srood R. Najib, recently appointed by the Prime Minister to chair the Tuwaitha committee, met with Minister for Economic Affairs Ambassador Charles Ries, Economic Affairs Minister Counselor, Daniel BAGHDAD 00002433 002 OF 002 Weygandt, Energy Attach, and Emboff. Amb. Najib reiterated the need for USG assistance in removing and selling the yellow cake, stressing his concerns regarding the security of the material as long as it remains at Tuwaitha. Energy Attach presented Amb. Najib with the elements of the letter the USG needed from the GoI requesting USG assistance. (Reftel B) Amb. Najib stated that he would prepare the letter and have it sent to the Embassy as quickly as possible. ¶8. (C). Amb. Najib stated that the next meeting of the committee was scheduled for Monday, July 23 at 8:30 a.m. in his office, and requested Energy Attach to cancel plans to attend Tuwaitha-related IAEA meetings in Vienna in order to attend the Monday meeting. Amb. Najib also requested USG assistance in obtaining visas for members of the committee to meet with IAEA representatives in Vienna to ensure a complete understanding of all IAEA and Security Council requirements applicable to the transport and sale of the yellow cake. The members of the committee are: Ambassador Srood R. Najib, Chairman; Dr. Khalid Fahad Al-Jubouri; Mohammed Jawad Al-Share'; and, Dr. Mousa Jaffar al-Atia. He also stated his intent to contact potential purchasers and establish meetings with them in Vienna. Amb. Najib reiterated his commitment to, and insistence upon maintaining strict confidentiality of all information related to the yellow cake SIPDIS at Tuwaitha, including during the committee's discussions with potential purchasers. CROCKER