In a bid to prevent nuclear proliferation in countries across the world, the United States (U.S) and China with the support of Nigerian authorities have successfully removed highly enriched uranium (HEU) from a research reactor in Kaduna state.
A recent report by Defense News a professional news source for the world’s defense decision-makers details the operation.
The research reactor in Kaduna, non-proliferation experts, said could be a target for terrorists hoping to get their hands on the nuclear material for creating dirty bombs.
But with the removal of the nuclear material, Nigeria joins one of the 33 countries in world and 11 in Africa that have now become free of HEU.
HEU is type of nuclear substance often referred to by the general public as weapons-grade uranium. This kind of uranium forms the core of any nuclear weapons material, and the Nigerian material was more than 90 percent enriched, making it particularly attractive for anyone looking to use it.
The nuclear material was moved by a TUK-145/C — a 30-ton cargo container designed specifically for moving such uranium from place to place and doing so securely – and transported by a Russian Antonov An-124 cargo plane to China on Dec. 4.
The movement procedure was escorted by the Nigerian military toward the An-124 aircraft and sent on its way to its final destination.
The removal became imperative over increase in militant groups in the Northern region of the country, particularly Boko Haram insurgency, a jihadist militant organization based in northeastern Nigeria.
Nigeria, with technical support and backing from China, had begun work on what would become Nigerian Research Reactor 1 (NIRR-1), located at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in Kaduna in mid-1990s.
NIRR-1 is categorized as a miniature neutron source reactor, which was designed for “scientific research, neutron activation analysis, education and training,” per the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Although a kilogram of HEU of the Nigerian material may not be enough to create a full nuclear weapon if stolen. However, terrorist groups would be able to create a dirty bomb, containing radioactive material, with the substance or add some other substances gathered elsewhere to create a device that could cause a large explosion. This makes it a threat for the nation.
“We don’t want any material that is attractive to terrorists,” said Yusuf Aminu Ahmed, director of the Nigerian Centre for Energy Research and Training.
The removal operation cost roughly $5.5 million, with the United States contributing $4.3 million. The United Kingdom donated $900,000 while Norway contributed $290,000.
Although, China did not make any contribution, it however provided the technical support for the entire operation.
Oluwasegun Olakoyenikan
