Nuclear Nonproliferation

Nuclear nonproliferation — stopping the spread of nuclear materials — is a critical part of creating a safer world. Y‑12 has been working in nonproliferation since the early 90s in more than 25 countries. Our contributions include:

Securing nuclear and radiological materials worldwide. Much of this work is supported by Global Threat Reduction.

Eliminating weapons-usable material by down blending it to a less concentrated form, low enriched uranium (LEU). An international nonproliferation program is destroying, or down blending, 400 metric tons of highly enriched uranium — equivalent to about 16,000 weapons in the Russian arsenal. As part of our material disposition efforts, Y‑12’s Highly Enriched Uranium Disposition Program Office provides technical support, program planning and implementation of the down blending of surplus highly enriched uranium (HEU) for the National Nuclear Security Administration Office of Fissile Materials Disposition.

Fueling research reactors with LEU. In fact, 80% of the world’s research reactors using LEU get their fuel from Y-12. These reactors test materials and produce medical isotopes for diagnosing and treating disease.

Providing power. Ten percent of all the electricity used in the United States comes from former Russian nuclear weapons. Y-12’s down blending not only eliminates weapons, it supplies nuclear power plants to create electricity. One converted nuclear warhead used in commercial nuclear power can produce enough electricity to power every American home for 2 hours.

We also create new technology in support of these missions. For instance, the ES‑3100 Type B shipping container provides safe, secure transportation for nuclear materials.