The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the U.N.’s nuclear ‘watchdog’ based in Vienna, has reported that 2.5 tons of natural uranium that was stored in Libya has gone missing. No details have been given as to which site the uranium went missing from. The Libyan National Army, headed by Khalifa Hifter, issued a statement that they had recovered the missing drums claiming that separatist fighters from Chad had taken the drums after mistaking them for holding weapons and ammunition. The IAEA is aware of Hifter’s claim and is trying to verify it. All enriched uranium was removed from Libya in 2009 but the U.N. estimates approximately 6,400 barrels or about 1,000 metric tons of uranium yellowcake remained.
