Statement by Amb. J. Enkhsaikhan in explanation of voteon
the resolution regarding the Assurance of Nuclear Fuel Supply

Vienna, 3 December 2010

My delegation supported the inclusion and consideration of this item at this session of the Board of Governors. This issue has been discussed in the Board and outside it for some years now. In 2007 the Director General reported on a possible new framework for the utilization of nuclear energy. In 2009 he reported on a proposal for the establishment of an IAEA Low Enriched Uranium (LEU) bank. Last year the Board adopted a resolution to establish an LEU reserve in Angarsk, Russia. Today’s consideration of the item on assurance of supply and taking a decision is thus a logical continuation of this process.

We understand the essence of the proposal:to establish IAEA LEU Bank for the possible use of its Member States as an assurance of supply of nuclear fuel for their nuclear facilities. It is one of the several proposals that have been made regarding various aspects of assured nuclear fuel supply in line with Article IV of the NPT and Article IX of the Agency’s Statute.

My delegation has carefully examined document GOV/2010/67, which provides information on the legal and financial aspects of the LEU bank as well on its establishment and operation. It has also carefully followed the debate on this issue this afternoon. In our view, the 4 eligibility criteria, reflected in para. 19 of the document seem to be clear and fair. We also agree to the 7 recommended actions reflected in para. 22. We believe that this proposal ensures the right of states to receive LEU from a guaranteed supply mechanism and does not require giving up the option to establish or further develop a national fuel cycle. It is also clearly understood that this proposal is not be linked to any conditions except the clearly defined eligibility criteria mentioned above, nor affect in any way establishment in future of other international assurance supply mechanisms. For these reasons Mongolia voted in favor of the draft resolution contained in document GOV/2010/68.

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