OREANDA-NEWS. September 08, 2009. The efforts of Russia and other states, particularly, Germany and the United Kingdom, to create a low enriched uranium reserve under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency would not impact on the rights of the IAEA member states to benefit fully from peaceful uses of nuclear energy or limit in any way the states’ nuclear fuel cycle options, Director Genera of IAEA Mohamed ElBaradei said during the Sept 7 meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors.

“Reliance on nuclear energy is expected to increase in the coming decades and such assurances would increase the security of energy supply. As I have said many times, any such mechanism should be non-political, non-discriminatory and available to all Member States in compliance with their safeguards obligations. It should provide an added layer of assurance that every country that wants nuclear energy has guaranteed access to a supply of nuclear fuel that will not be interrupted for political reasons.”

“I am convinced that the time has now come for concrete steps towards a multilateral approach to the fuel cycle, particularly in light of the new momentum for nuclear disarmament. I should make it clear again that our ultimate aim should be the full multinationalization of the sensitive parts of the fuel cycle to guarantee the supply of nuclear fuel and consolidate efforts to achieve a world free from nuclear weapons,” ElBaradei said.