Balancing the Books: Production and Stocks

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Other

Balancing the Books: Production and Stocks

While Britain is contributing productively to disarmament efforts, its fissile material records should be more transparent. A better means of tracking fissile materials is imperative as the world pursues mechanisms to verify nuclear weapons reductions.

By James M. Acton

Published on Oct 29, 2010

Source: IPFM Report

In Chapter 5 of the International Panel on Fissile Material's 2010 report, Global Fissile Material Report 2010: Balancing the Books: Production and Stocks, Carnegie's James Acton and co-authors account for the United Kingdom's holdings of plutonium and highly enriched uranium (HEU). Although the United Kingdom has released more information about its fissile material stockpiles than any other state apart from the U.S., significant uncertainties about its acquisition and use of plutonium and HEU remain—not least because important details of transactions with the United States remain classified.

In spite of these difficulties, Acton and his co-authors are able to present the most detailed accounting of UK military fissile materials available in the public domain, including a comprehensive analysis of its naval reactor program. They advocate for more detailed reports on the United Kingdom's fissile materials and argue that as the United Kingdom decommissions its production facilities there will be a valuable opportunity for international verification.

About the Author

James M. Acton

Jessica T. Mathews Chair, Co-director, Nuclear Policy Program

Acton holds the Jessica T. Mathews Chair and is co-director of the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

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