Thursday, July 10, 2014

They Need A Better Barn Door

Grip n' Grin at IAEA Headquarters in Vienna, 7 July 2014
















It's a good news, bad news kind of story. First, Iraq locked its nuclear barn door against theft by acceding to the Convention on Physical Protection of Nuclear Material:
The Republic of Iraq deposited its instrument of accession to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) with IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano at the Agency's headquarters on 7 July 2014.

On receiving the instrument of accession from the IAEA Resident Representative of Iraq, Ambassador Surood Rashid Najib, the Director General emphasized that universal adherence to the CPPNM strengthens and contributes to the international resolve to fortify the global nuclear security regime. Ambassador Najib during the treaty event, also mentioned his country's unwavering commitment to the Agency's mandate which was further reflected by the recent accession of his country to the CPPNM.

Then, three days later, we find out that ninety pounds of Iraq's 'low grade' nuclear material had already been stolen:
Iraq has notified the United Nations that Sunni militants seized nuclear material from a university in the northern city of Mosul last month as they advanced toward Baghdad, the nuclear regulatory body of the United Nations said Thursday.

Iraq joined that Convention none too late, eh?

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

TSB: Just finished a 3 author book on Fukashima. After 2 weeks everyone knew that all 6 reactors and spent fuel pools were going to be a total
loss. With 32 of the same reactors in the US the fight was on as to whether to increase safety here. Bottom line: If you can take over a dam upstream from a reactor and flood it you will get a repeat of Fukashima in the US because we have done nothing. gwb