Authorities, Activities and Plans for the Minimization of High Enriched Uranium Through the Global Threat Reduction Initiative

The Office of Global Threat Reduction’s (GTRI) Conversion Program develops and implements the technology necessary to enable the conversion of civilian facilities using high enriched uranium (HEU) to low enriched uranium (LEU) fuels and targets. The Conversion program mission supports the minimization and, to the extent possible, elimination of the use of HEU in civil nuclear applications by working to convert research reactors and radioisotope production processes to the use of LEU fuel and targets throughout the world. During the Program’s 30 years of existence, 56 research reactors have been converted from HEU to LEU fuels, and processes have been developed for producing the medical isotope Molybdenum-99 with LEU targets. Under GTRI, the Conversion Program has accelerated the schedules and plans for the conversion of additional research reactors operating with HEU. This paper summarizes the current status and plans for conversion of research reactors, in the U.S. and abroad, the supporting fuel development activities, and the development of processes for medical isotope production with LEU targets.