Officials: No leaking at nuclear institute

The radioactive waste stored at the Vinca Institute is not leaking, inspectors have determined today. Their announcement comes after media reports that the containers holding the nuclear material on this location, close to Belgrade, were damaged. Officials: No leaking at nuclear institute At the same time, Science Minister Ana Pesikan told B92 that the problem involving the Vinca radioactive waste will be solved by 2010, when it is slated to be transported to Russia. She also denied reports that the safety of the material stored at the institute was compromised. Serbia and Russia are in the final phases of negotiating a contract, due to be signed in May, Pesikan added. The International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, has given Belgrade EUR 5.5mn for this purpose. In the meantime, the sources with the United Nations said that the security at the Vinca nuclear reactor has been "a source of concern for a while", but that the problem has now been "for the most part solved, thanks to the Serbian government, helped by the United States". The UN has also said that a deal between the IAEA, European Commission and Serbia to solve the problem is a part of a global action aimed at reducing the risks of illegal trade in radioactive materials. However, the world organization says additional USD 25mn is needed to complete the Vinca project. The material stored at the institute, slated to be transported to Russia, is highly enriched uranium, the kind used to manufacture nuclear arms. The United States is set to finance the equipment needed for the transport of the thousands of containers to Russia. The UN sources said that the operation will be "the largest movement of spent materials in Europe". The Vinca reactor itself will then be shut down, the same officials said.

Officials: No leaking at nuclear institute

At the same time, Science Minister Ana Pešikan told B92 that the problem involving the Vinča radioactive waste will be solved by 2010, when it is slated to be transported to Russia.

She also denied reports that the safety of the material stored at the institute was compromised.

Serbia and Russia are in the final phases of negotiating a contract, due to be signed in May, Pešikan added.

The International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, has given Belgrade EUR 5.5mn for this purpose.

In the meantime, the sources with the United Nations said that the security at the Vinča nuclear reactor has been "a source of concern for a while", but that the problem has now been "for the most part solved, thanks to the Serbian government, helped by the United States".

The UN has also said that a deal between the IAEA, European Commission and Serbia to solve the problem is a part of a global action aimed at reducing the risks of illegal trade in radioactive materials.

However, the world organization says additional USD 25mn is needed to complete the Vinča project.

The material stored at the institute, slated to be transported to Russia, is highly enriched uranium, the kind used to manufacture nuclear arms.

The United States is set to finance the equipment needed for the transport of the thousands of containers to Russia. The UN sources said that the operation will be "the largest movement of spent materials in Europe".

The Vinča reactor itself will then be shut down, the same officials said.