The United Nations’ nuclear watchdog expressed concern about radiological and security risks and sounded the alarm a few hours prior.
According to a general in eastern Libya, who is in charge of Khalifa Haftar’s communications division, the UN’s nuclear watchdog has found over 2 tonnes of natural uranium that were previously reported missing in the war-torn country. The containers of uranium were discovered less than 5km (3 miles) away from where they were originally stored in southern Libya. The International Atomic Energy Agency had reported the disappearance earlier that day. Rafael Grossi, the director general of the IAEA, informed member states that during an inspection on Tuesday, 10 drums containing roughly 2.5 tonnes of uranium ore concentrate were not present as previously declared.
Natural uranium requires an enrichment process before it can be used for energy production or bomb fuel. This involves converting the metal into a gas and then spinning it in centrifuges to reach the necessary levels. Experts state that if a group with the required technological capabilities and resources obtained a tonne of natural uranium, it could be refined to produce 5.6kg (12lbs) of weapons-grade material over time. This highlights the significance of finding the missing uranium for nonproliferation experts.
The discovery that the uranium was missing resulted from an inspection that was originally planned for the previous year but had to be postponed due to security concerns in the region. The inspection was finally carried out on Tuesday, and according to a confidential statement from Grossi, not knowing the location of the material could pose a radiological risk and raise concerns about nuclear security.
Since the fall of Gaddafi in 2011, the African nation has been stuck in a political crisis, with numerous militias forming opposing alliances that have the support of foreign powers.
