IAEA: REQUEST FOR GUIDANCE ON RESEARCH REACTOR ISSUES IN

UNCLAS UNVIE VIENNA 000473 STATE for T, ISN/MNSA; ISN/NESS; I/O T DOE for NA20, NA21 Bieniawski, Iliopulos, Rooney, Messick; NA24 Scheinman, Lersten, Goorevich, Krupa, Mallin, Fazer NRC for OIP - Schwartzman E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: IAEA ENRG TRGY AORC KNNP CG SUBJECT: IAEA: REQUEST FOR GUIDANCE ON RESEARCH REACTOR ISSUES IN DEMOCRATIC REPBULIC OF CONGO ¶1. Summary: The French mission expressed concern about indications that a UK mining company was pressing the DROC Government to restart the Triga research reactor. At an August 2 meeting, French DCM asked Nuclear Counselor for the U.S. position on the IAEA's security plan for the reactor as well as plans for fuel return and decommissioning. Belgian and UK mission representatives were also present. Mission requests guidance on these issues para 4. End Summary ¶2. The French DCM, on instructions from Paris, expressed concern about several articles that appeared in the French press recently. The articles indicated that a British mining company was interested is somehow re-commissioning the DROC reactor. This is a concern because the French are anxious to have the fuel removed and the facility decommissioned. The UK mission was not aware of any British interest in the Congo reactor and is following up on the concern. The French DCM asked if the U.S. was still supportive of removing the fuel from the facility and decommissioning it. He said that France would be willing to help pay decommissioning costs, and is interested in any offers made to the DROC to help them decide to return the fuel and decommission the reactor. ¶3. The French DCM was also concerned about a report that the U.S. was not supportive of recent IAEA-recommended security upgrades to the reactor facility. The IAEA sent a team to the facility during the week of July 23. The mission found that there were small security upgrades that could be made to increase the security in the short term. The costs of the upgrades are estimated to be Euro 50,000 which the French are willing to fund. IAEA indicated that they are moving forward with the implementation of these upgrades and that they should be fully implemented by Dec 31, 2007. IAEA has also indicated that they have not heard any objection by the U.S. The French Ambassador has asked for the official U.S. position regarding these short term security upgrades. ¶4. Mission requests guidance in responding to the French Mission on the U.S. position. Specifically, the French Ambassador wanted to make sure that the US/UK/Bel/Fr were united in support of: -- The IAEA's short term security action plan for the site which would cost about Euro 50K. -- Fuel take back at the earliest possible moment. -- The eventual decommissioning of the plant. ¶5. Guidance is especially important since Ambassador Schulte is planning to visit South Africa August 10 and the topic of this research reactor may come up. South Africa has been very interested in having the fuel removed from the facility and has indicated that they would be willing to help convince the DROC to do so. SANDBERG NNNN End Cable Text Michael R Bauman 05/28/2008 04:57:05 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results Recipient/Profile Information Cable Recipients: - No Recipients - LMDS Profiles/Office Symbols: NP_AS_B1 NP_AS_B6 NP_AS_B7 NP_AS_C2 NP_AS_C4 NP_AS_C5 NP_AS_C8 NP_AS_C9 NP_CB_C5 NP_CPI_B2 NP_CPI_B3 NP_ECNP_B17 NP_EX_B2 NP_ISN_C1 NP_ISN_C10 NP_ISN_C11 NP_ISN_C13 NP_ISN_C14 NP_ISN_C3 NP_MNA_B2 NP_MNA_B4 NP_MNA_B5 NP_NDF_B1 NP_NDF_B2 NP_NE_B1 NP_NE_B2 NP_NE_B3 NP_NE_B5 NP_NE_B6 NP_NE_B7 NP_PC_B1 NP_PTR_B1 NP_RA_B1 NP_RA_B11 NP_RA_B2 NP_RA_B3 NP_RA_B4 NP_RA_B5 NP_RA_B6 NP_RA_B7 NP_RSS_C1 NP_RSS_C3 NP_SC_B1 NP_ST_C3 NP_WMDT_B2 CableXpress Folders: - No Folders -