Full Breakdown
U.S. Removes 13.5 kg of Highly Enriched Uranium from Venezuela’s RV-1 Reactor
5/10/2026, 12:30:48 AM
Removal of HEU from Venezuela’s RV-1 Reactor
Between 18 and 29 April 2026, a team removed 13.5 kg of highly enriched uranium (HEU), enriched above 20 % U-235, from the RV-1 reactor at Venezuela’s Institute for Scientific Research (IVIC). The uranium was sealed, moved 160 km to Puerto Cabello, and shipped to the Savannah River Site in South Carolina.
Background, Timeline, and Key Actors
The RV-1 reactor, built in 1960, stopped research in 1991 and closed with the IAEA in 1997. A U.S. strike near the site on 3 January 2026 raised risk and made the operation urgent. NNSA Administrator Brandon Williams and Deputy Administrator Dr. Matt Napoli led the removal, working with the IAEA, the UK’s Nuclear Transport Solutions and Venezuela’s transitional leadership.
Data, Logistics, and Processing
The operation secured 13.5 kg of HEU enriched above 20 % U-235. After overland transport to Puerto Cabello, the cargo traveled by sea to the Savannah River Site, where it will be processed at the H-Canyon facility into high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) for U.S. nuclear energy programs.
Official Statements and Responses
NNSA said removal was a major step in lowering nuclear security risks in South America and United States and that uranium will support HALEU production; DOE noted mission is part of a program that has secured over 7,350 kg of weapons-grade material. IAEA confirmed transport was safe and secure. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil said January strike raised risk and made operation urgent.
Criticism and Opposition
Pro-democracy activists criticized the U.S. for recognizing interim President Delcy Rodríguez and sidelining opposition leader María Corina Machado, arguing the operation serves political aims rather than pure security concerns. They also questioned the claim that the removal would normally take years.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Thanks to President Trump’s decisive leadership, the dedicated teams on the ground completed in months what would have normally taken years.” — Brandon Williams, NNSA Administrator
- “I couldn’t be prouder of the men and women who carried out this vital mission,” — Dr. Matt Napoli, Deputy Administrator, NNSA Office of Defence Nuclear Nonproliferation
- “The safe removal of all enriched uranium from Venezuela sends another signal to the world of a restored and renewed Venezuela,” — Brandon Williams, NNSA Administrator
- “safely and securely transported by land and sea from South to North America” — International Atomic Energy Agency
Conflicting Reports and Gaps
All sources report the same 13.5 kg of HEU removed, but no independent third-party verification of the material’s condition or the timeline has been provided. The assertion that the operation would normally take years is not supported by comparative data.
What’s Next
The HEU will be processed at Savannah River Site’s H-Canyon facility to produce HALEU for U.S. nuclear energy projects. The operation highlights continued international cooperation on nuclear material security.
