Aukus Submarines Will Leave Weapons-Usable Uranium Waste

Australia's planned Aukus nuclear submarine fleet will produce tonnes of weapons-usable uranium-235, which will remain radioactive for hundreds of millions of years and can be processed into scores of warheads, according to nuclear experts speaking at a public inquiry into the Aukus agreement. The enriched uranium is estimated to reach 80% purity, comparable to the level used in the bomb dropped on Hiroshima.

This transfer of highly enriched uranium to a non-nuclear weapons nation sets a dangerous precedent for nuclear proliferation, a former White House national security adviser told The Guardian. This adviser suggested that countries like Iran could exploit this precedent, potentially weakening global controls on the spread of weapons-usable nuclear material. The Aukus deal involves the United Kingdom and the United States providing Australia with nuclear-powered, conventionally armed submarines.

The long-term implications of managing this highly enriched uranium waste are a significant concern. The material's extreme longevity means that future generations will bear the burden of its safe storage and disposal. Experts emphasize that the potential for reprocessing this waste into fissile material for nuclear weapons presents a persistent security threat that extends far beyond the operational life of the submarines themselves. The inquiry is examining the full scope of the Aukus program's implications, including its environmental and security ramifications.