Full Breakdown
Removal of High-Enriched Uranium from Venezuela's RV-1 Research Reactor Completed
5/15/2026, 3:45:46 AM
Joint Removal Operation Concludes
A coordinated effort by the United States, Venezuela, the United Kingdom and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) removed the remaining highly enriched uranium (HEU) from the shut-down RV-1 research reactor at the Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Research, 15 km southwest of Caracas. Thirteen kilograms of HEU were placed in a U.S.–supplied spent-fuel cask, escorted by the Venezuelan military to Puerto Cabello, transferred to a UK-provided carrier, and shipped to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site in South Carolina, where the Office of Environmental Management assumed custody in early May 2024.
Background of the RV-1 Facility
RV-1 operated from the 1960s until 1991, using fuel supplied by the United States and the United Kingdom under the Atoms for Peace program. After decommissioning, the reactor’s HEU remained a proliferation concern. The IAEA reports that 111 research reactors and medical isotope facilities worldwide have been converted to low-enriched uranium (LEU) or shut down, with more than 6,930 kg of HEU repatriated.
Key Figures and Quantitative Outcomes
- HEU removed: 13 kg (one source cites 13.5 kg).
- Global conversion: 111 reactors converted or closed.
- Global HEU disposition: >6,930 kg repatriated; >7,340 kg removed or confirmed by the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA).
- The retrieved material will be down-blended into high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) for U.S. nuclear fuel use.
These figures illustrate a tangible reduction in weapons-usable material and reinforce international non-proliferation objectives.
Official Statements & Responses
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi praised the “strong will, effective coordination, dedication and professionalism of all the parties involved.” The U.S. Department of Energy’s NNSA highlighted the mission’s successful completion and the expertise of its teams. The U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Arms Control and Nonproliferation described the operation as a “key nuclear security milestone.” Venezuelan authorities facilitated secure transport, while the United Kingdom supplied the maritime carrier.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact mass of HEU removed, citing 13 kg, 13.5 kg, and a 13-kilogram shipment. Details on the schedule for down-blending the material and its final application remain unspecified.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This has been an example of the strong will, effective coordination, dedication and professionalism of all the parties involved,” — Rafael Grossi, Director General, IAEA
- “I couldn’t be prouder of the men and women who carried out this vital mission,” — Matt Napoli, Deputy Administrator, Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation, U.S. DOE
- “This operation reflects American leadership at its best: decisive, practical, and focused on protecting the American people.” — U.S. State Department, Bureau of Arms Control and Nonproliferation
- “The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA), in cooperation with partners, has completed the removal of all remaining enriched uranium from an old research reactor in Venezuela,” — UNN (Ukrainian Nuclear News)
