Eight cylinders of uranium stolen in Romania

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Eight cylinders of uranium stolen in Romania

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Eight cylinders containing 73.5 kg of uranium ore were stolen from a radioactive depot in Romania.

02 November,2011 05:17 am

According to a press release, the commission for the control of nuclear activities (CNCAN) was informed on October 26 that eight 3.5-m long cylinders containing 73.5 kilos of uranium ore disappeared from the depot at Stei.“The ore extracted from Baita quarry has low radioactivity levels” and poses virtually no contamination risk for the environment, it added.“Even if the metal cylinders were broken or destroyed, the impact would be very limited” given the nature of the ore, the commission stressed. Local police said an investigation had been opened and several suspects would be interrogated soon.A local daily, Bihoreanul, said that the theft was discovered when several employees entered the depot in order to prepare the transfer of the uranium to a processing plant in Feldioara.