International Plutonium Storage — Status and Options

In 1978 the Director General of the IAEA established an Expert Group to prepare proposals for the international management and storage of plutonium. The Expert Group included representatives from most countries with advanced nuclear programs. After working on a single approach, some participants broke ranks and pressed for an alternative approach. In its final report to the Director General in late 1982, the Expert Group provided three alternative approaches to international plutonium storage (IPS). The question is how to keep alive the concept of IPS and to develop a viable mechanism which is attractive to countries holding separated plutonium.