Successful completion of Kazakhstan's nuclear spent fuel program

[U.S. of America]

The United States announced Thursday a successful completion of Kazakhstan's nuclear spent fuel program, hailing it as a significant contribution to global security and nuclear non-proliferation.

U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the Central Asian country safely shut down this week its BN-350 plutonium production reactor in Aktau in its west, secured about 100 tons of weapons-grade spent fuel and transported them to a new secure storage facility in the east.

Lauding the step as "historic," Toner told reporters at a press briefing that it secured enough nuclear material for 800 nuclear weapons.

"Kazakhstan under the leadership of President Nursultan Nazarbayev has made a significant contribution to global security and nuclear non-proliferation," he added.

The United States joined the BN-350 nuclear spent fuel program. (PNA/Xinhua)