[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 125 (Tuesday, August 4, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1208]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        THE LOW ENRICHED URANIUM (LEU) FUEL BANK AND KAZAKHSTAN

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                           HON. ED WHITFIELD

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 4, 2015

  Mr. WHITFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Kazakhstan and 
its commitment to nuclear nonproliferation. As the Chairman of the 
Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Power, I recognize the 
complexities of nuclear power and would like to commend Kazakhstan for 
its leadership helping to prevent the spread of nuclear materials and 
to advance the responsible, peaceful use of existing civilian nuclear 
energy.
  When it declared independence in 1991, Kazakhstan possessed the 
fourth largest arsenal of nuclear weapons in the world. By 1993, 
Kazakhstan had dismantled and secured its entire arsenal and chose to 
become an international partner in nuclear non-proliferation efforts.
  On July 21, 2015, I had the opportunity to meet with His Excellency 
Kairat Umarov, the Ambassador of Kazakhstan. During the meeting we 
discussed Kazakhstan's ongoing commitment to these issues. On August 
27th, Kazakhstan will partner with the International Atomic Energy 
Agency (IAEA) to establish the world's first international fuel bank. 
This unprecedented facility, planned for nearly a decade, will help 
prevent the spread of nuclear materials and support the appropriate 
commercial use of nuclear energy. The fuel bank, controlled by the IAEA 
and operated in northern Kazakhstan, will maintain a reliable supply of 
low enriched uranium available to countries if they lose access to fuel 
supplies for their nuclear power plants.
  The LEU Bank will provide a secure, guaranteed supply of nuclear 
fuel, paving the way for nations to pursue peaceful nuclear power under 
the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) without the need for their 
own enrichment programs. Given the current global security environment 
and the recent focus on Iran's nuclear program, the establishment of 
the LEU Bank could also alleviate concerns that a country's peaceful 
energy program could be altered to produce weapons grade enriched 
uranium. As the world continues to explore the potential of nuclear 
power, we need a solution that removes the threat of enrichment from 
the peaceful development of nuclear energy.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating 
Kazakhstan on this important announcement that will empower nations to 
unlock the power of nuclear energy, while eliminating the need for 
domestic enrichment programs that put our safety at risk.

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