Foreign Minister Yvan Gil said in a statement that the January 3 military attack near the institute’s facilities, about 50 meters from the former reactor, increased the level of risk and underscored the urgency of the operation that Venezuela had long sought.
The press release states that the reactor ended operations in 1991 and was permanently shut down in 1997, with part of the spent nuclear fuel removed and the remaining material placed under technical supervision in accordance with international safety protocols.
The site is said to have later been converted into a gamma ray sterilization facility for the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
According to the government, since the late 1990s, Venezuela has repeatedly notified the IAEA of the need to remove remaining unused sources and materials from the country.
The operation was carried out from April 18 to 29 and included the storage and extraction of the remaining nuclear material, its transport by road to Puerto Cabello in the state of Carabobo and loading for specialized marine transport.
The statement said that the Venezuelan Ministry of Science and Technology, the US National Nuclear Security Administration and Great Britain, which was responsible for the maritime transport, participated in the operation.
The announcement confirmed Venezuela’s commitment to the peaceful use of nuclear science and responsible international cooperation, as well as fulfilling its obligations under the Tlatelolco Treaty, the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the safeguards agreement with the IAEA, Xinhua reported.
(Vijesti.ba / FENA)
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