Thaindian News

WASHINGTON, D.C. (BNO NEWS) – The White House announced Tuesday that Mexico, the United States, and Canada reached an agreement to convert the fuel in Mexico’s research reactor.

The three countries agreed to work together, along with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), at the Nuclear Security Summit, which is being held in Washington, D.C., as they acknowledging the importance of this project. It is a substantial step to replacing the research reactor with a new low-enriched uranium fuelled reactor.

The conversion of the reactor’s use of highly enriched uranium to low enriched uranium fuel will enable the elimination of all the remaining highly enriched uranium from Mexico, strengthening nuclear security throughout North America.

“The strong commitment of Mexico to prevent and suppress nuclear terrorism; with this kind of cooperation with the IAEA and our North American partners, we definitely contribute to reducing the risks associated with illicit trafficking of nuclear materials,” Mexican President Felipe Calderon said.

President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Stephen Harper expressed their fulfillment as they coincided that the agreement is a strong indicator of the countries’ trilateral partnership, proving that collective action has solid results.

Mexico’s research reactor, Central Nuclear Laguna Verde, is the only nuclear center in Mexico, which is located near the Gulf of Mexico in the state of Veracruz. The first of its two BWR-5 generators began its operations in 1989, and the second, in 1995.