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Vienna Center for Disarmament
and Non-Proliferation
International platform for disarmament and non-proliferation dialogue, research, and education

Nuclear Disarmament and Nonproliferation: A Fissile Material Perspective

On 4 November 2011, VCDNP hosted a presentation by Prof. Frank von Hippel, Princeton University.
Posted: 7 November 2011

On 4 November 2011, as part of its monthly seminar series, the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation hosted a presentation by Prof. Frank von Hippel, Princeton University, who also co-chairs the International Panel on Fissile Materials (IPFM).

Elena Sokova, VCDNP Director
Elena Sokova, VCDNP Director

In his briefing titled "Nuclear Disarmament and Nonproliferation: A Fissile Material Perspective," Dr. von Hippel presented information on the IPFM's latest estimates of global stocks of highly enriched uranium and separated plutonium, and outlined a number of recommendations intended to contribute to disarmament and nonproliferation.

Among the IPFM's recommendation is a call to the United States and the United Kingdom to redesign their naval reactors to use low enriched uranium (LEU) and to Russia to decommission its critical and pulsed reactors.

He further made a case for stopping nuclear fuel reprocessing that results in separated plutonium and having multilateral uranium enrichment facilities instead of keeping or launching enrichment facilities in individual countries.

Von Hippel also suggested that the IAEA should be allowed to safeguard the non-military nuclear activities, as well as the excess weapon material stocks, in nuclear weapon states.