New York: A global effort to remove dangerous spent fuel and decommission a Soviet-designed nuclear reactor in Serbia has cleared another major funding hurdle as part of a United Nations-backed initiative to close down potential sources of terrorism and proliferation.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) yesterday said that together with the Serbian Government it has signed a US $ 8.63 million framework agreement with the European Commission to help fund decommissioning the reactor at Vinca on the outskirts of Belgrade, the Serbian capital.

But US $ 25 million more is still needed to complete the project, which includes repatriating to Russia high-enriched uranium that could be converted to weapons-grade material.

"The EC support was absolutely crucial to the life of the programme, but we have quite a ways to go to find the remaining US $ 25 million for the project," said IAEA Special Programme Manager for the Vinca Institute Nuclear Decommissioning (VIND) John J Kelly.

"The EC contribution serves as a great example and encourages other potential donors to invest in an important and successful project. With radioactive waste, disused sources and leaking spent fuel that's almost 45 years old, the Vinca site presents huge radiological challenges," he said.

Security at Vinca had long been a source of concern, with much of the dangerous material and facilities inadequately protected.

IAEA has been involved in various projects in recent years from now independent of reunified countries that were part of the Soviet sphere of influence, including the secret airlift from the former East Germany of 270 kilos of HEU and the repatriation from Uzbekistan of fuel containing enough uranium to produce two and a half nuclear bombs.

Source : PTI