Contrary to claims made recently by BNFL that its involvement in the supply of depleted uranium to the Ministry of Defence ended in 1991 at the time of the Gulf War, documents show clearly that the company’s involvement in this weapons trade was continuing even in late 1993.
The documents in CORE’s possession, from United States records, reveal that 120 tonnes of depleted uranium for weapons use were exported from America to the UK – with BNFL and its US subsidiary BNFL Inc seemingly acting as agents for the Ministry of Defence.
One document, dated September 1993, from the US Department of State’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, cites the export application by BNFL Inc as being in respect of “ 120,203.2 kg of depleted uranium for use by British Nuclear Fuels plc, for manufacture of penetrator munitions (95%) and commercial items (5%) “.
The subsequent export document, dated October 1993, shows export approval from the US for BNFL (as consignee) to import 120 tonnes of DU from BNFL Inc., the company’s US arm, as licensee. The export licence is validated and signed by the Assistant Director Exports, Security and Safety Cooperation Office of International Programs.
CORE said today “ BNFL is clearly trying to play down its connection with this dirty weapons trade to protect the wholesome image it seeks to promote but has never possessed.. It is typical that they should mislead the media on this issue, having clearly supplied DU via the export/import backdoor long after the Gulf War “.
The DU for export from the US originated at the Fernald site in Ohio. In the UK, DU is produced by BNFL as a by-product from the enrichment of natural uranium for reactor fuel manufacture, and as a product of the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel. An estimated 40,000 tonnes of DU is stockpiled at BNFL sites in the northwest, principally at the company’s Capenhurst enrichment plant, but also at their Springfields fuel fabrication plant and at their military reactor site at Chapelcross. Some is also held at Sellafield.
For further information contact CORE on 01229 833851 or mobile 0789 999 1146.