KAERI sends uranium to incinerator

[Korea Times, 9 and 10 August] The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) reported that it had inadvertently sent 2.7 kg of uranium to a waste incinerator in May. The state-run institute has informed the South Korean government as well as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The uranium consisted of 1.9 kg of natural uranium and 0.8 kg of depleted uranium, as well as 0.2 grams of enriched uranium (at an enrichment level of about 10%). A KAERI spokesman told The Korea Times, "Our staff mistook the uranium stored in a small box for waste, and had it burned in a facility in Gyeonggi Province in May. We learned of this on 6 August." He added, "We are investigating how come such an accident happened. But the uranium will not pose any environmental threat." The spokesman said that as uranium does not burn it "should remain intact at the waste dump. Our staff members will look hard for it." However, he said "the hitch is that the uranium was processed months ago and is smaller than the size of a golf ball."

Further information

International Atomic Energy Agency
Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute