Efforts are underway to find more than two tons of natural uranium reported missing from stockpiles held in Libya, the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed Wednesday.
A spokesman for the nuclear watchdog told CNN in an email that “approximately 2.5 tons of natural uranium” was found missing during a March 14 inspection.
“The agency’s safeguards inspectors found that 10 batteries containing approximately 2.5 tons of natural uranium in the form of uranium ore concentrate were not present as previously stated at a location in the state of Libya,” the IAEA said in its statement.
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi has informed the agency’s member states and officials are working to find out what happened to the uranium and where it is now, the statement added.
There are fears that uranium could pose a radiological hazard as well as nuclear safety concerns. The IAEA said the site where the uranium was stored was not in government-controlled territory.
It is unclear when the uranium disappeared or who might have taken it.
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