REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON SCRAP METAL CONTAINING

S E C R E T STATE 079035 NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/29/2019 TAGS: ASEC GM KCRM KNNP MNUC PARM PINR PREL PTER XG XT SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON SCRAP METAL CONTAINING "ENRICHED URANIUM" REF: A. IAEA ITDB 2009-07-055 ¶B. IAEA ITDB 2006-04-007 Classified By: ISN Acting A/S Philip Foley ¶1. (U) This is an action request for Embassy Berlin. Please see paragraph 4. ¶2. (SBU) BACKGROUND: Per REF A, several pieces of molybdenum alloy were found to be emitting ionizing radiation at a scrap recycling facility in Ennepetal, Germany on March 16, 2009. Incrustations on the surface of the metal were identified as "enriched uranium" and reported to the IAEA's Illicit Trafficking Database (ITDB). The total mass of the metal was listed as 290 kilograms while the incrustations were estimated to be .5 to 1 percent of the total mass. Washington views this incident as an opportunity to continue its successful dialogue with Germany on matters related to nuclear smuggling and nuclear forensics while providing additional information on an incident of mutual interest. ¶3. (S//NF) ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND: Washington is concerned that a nuclear facility, possibly in Russia, is being dismantled and the scrap is not being properly screened for remaining nuclear material before it is shipped out. Some facilities that house low-enriched uranium also have weapons-usable nuclear material. In 2006, for example, highly enriched uranium was found in scrap metal shipped to Henningsdorf, Germany as indicated in REF B. The notifications listed in REFS A and B are similar, and Washington believes the country team is in the best position to provide additional information on this incident. ¶4. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: Post is requested to seek answers to the questions in paragraph 5 and any additional information on this incident from appropriate host government officials. Post may wish to provide copies of both IAEA notifications to German interlocutors. Post is also instructed to express Washington's gratitude for taking swift action in detecting the material in REF A and promptly notifying the ITDB of this incident. ¶5. (SBU) FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS: --(SBU) Can the USG obtain a copy of any laboratory analysis done on the low-enriched uranium? --(SBU) Is there information on the facility where this material originated? --(SBU) Is there information on the route by which this material was shipped before arriving in Germany, or the shipping company that handled it? --(SBU) Are there any similarities (facility of origin, transit route, shipping company, etc.) or direct connections between this incident and the 2006 discovery of highly enriched uranium in scrap metal shipped to Henningsdorf, Germany? (IAEA ITDB 2006-04-007) ¶6. (SBU) REPORTING DEADLINE: Washington requests that post coordinate its response through the country team and respond via front-channel cable no later than August 3, 2009. ¶7. Washington appreciates Post's assistance. Contact Michael Curry (currymr@state.gov, 202-736-7692) in ISN/WMDT for additional information. CLINTON