Latest update June 4th, 2026 12:30 AM
U.S. completes mission to remove highly enriched uranium from Venezuela
…as Canadian firm developing Guyana’s only uranium project
(Kaieteur News) – The United States, in partnership with Venezuela, United Kingdom and with technical support from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has successfully removed excess highly enriched uranium (HEU) from Venezuela.
In a statement on May 14, the U.S. State Department announced the successful removal of the HEU from Venezuela’s shuttered RV-1 research reactor. The RV-1 was the country’s first and only nuclear reactor, originally built for peaceful scientific research and later repurposed for gamma-ray sterilisation of medical supplies, food, and other materials.
NNSA technical experts overseeing the loading of nuclear fuel into the specialised spent nuclear fuel cask.
It said that with leadership and expertise of the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Arms Control and Nonproliferation and the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), the U.S. was able to achieve this key nuclear security milestone in a matter of months, and more than two years faster than originally planned.
In late April, Venezuela packaged and prepared for transportation HEU from its RV-1 research reactor that was supplied to Venezuela as part of the United States’ historic Atoms for Peace programme. The material was transported by the United Kingdom and arrived safely at the Savannah River Site in Aiken, South Carolina, in early May for disposition.
Notably, to date worldwide, NNSA has successfully removed or confirmed the disposition of more than 7,340 kilograms of weapons-usable nuclear material.
The Department further noted that the IAEA played a critical role in this operation, providing technical expertise and serving as observers throughout the removal process.
“This operation reflects American leadership at its best: decisive, practical, and focused on protecting the American people. By leading the removal of dangerous nuclear material from Venezuela, the United States is safer and has strengthened nuclear security worldwide,” it was further stated.
This announcement on the HEU being successfully removed from Venezuela, comes at a time when Canadian-based firm U92 Energy Corp. is developing Guyana’s only uranium project which spans across 92.2 square kilometers at Kurupung Region Seven, hosting some 20.6 million pounds (Mlbs) historical resource.
With the rig already in Guyana, U92 plans to start its 5000-metre diamond drill programme in the near future. In its most recent update, the company confirmed that the diamond drill rig assigned to U92 is currently in Guyana. The Canadian firm has already submitted the required environmental application for drill pad preparation, and that field teams are on site to complete camp infrastructure, including construction of a fuel storage facility in accordance with the applicable requirements. It was also revealed that key machineries have been sourced to support access road upgrades and drill pad construction.
The firm has spotlighted Guyana’s rapid rise as one of South America’s most attractive mining jurisdictions, with a pro-mining government. In its ‘Why Invest’ U92 outlined that it controls a major land package in Guyana with historical mineralisation. U92 said it is excited to build on the project’s historical Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE), comprising 10.6 Mlbs. indicated at a grade of 0.072% and 10Mlbs. Inferred at a grade of 0.067% U₃O₈, while advancing a set of high-priority, previously untested targets across the project area, within its two exploration licences.
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