Swiss stockpiles of nuclear materials in foreign storage facilities decreased in 2024, with natural uranium dropping by 81.8 tonnes while low-enriched uranium increased
"Stocks vary as a result of the acquisition and conversion of uranium into fuel elements, depending on economic and operational requirements"
Switzerland's nuclear material stockpiles stored in foreign facilities underwent significant changes in 2024. The most notable shift was an 81.8-tonne reduction in natural uranium reserves, while low-enriched uranium stocks increased by 27.3 tonnes. This marks a substantial change in Switzerland's nuclear material management strategy, reflecting evolving operational and economic considerations in the country's nuclear energy sector.
The current inventory shows natural uranium stocks at approximately 770 tonnes, a significant decrease from the previous years when levels remained stable at around 1,000 tonnes between 2020 and 2022. Low-enriched uranium stocks have risen to 141 tonnes, up from 113.6 tonnes in the previous year. Other nuclear materials remain stable, with depleted uranium maintaining at 8 kg and plutonium at 1 kg since 2017. Switzerland no longer maintains foreign stocks of thorium or highly enriched uranium, and uranium from reprocessing was phased out in 2020.
Switzerland maintains its nuclear material reserves across several strategic international locations, including Germany, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, Spain, and Sweden. This diversified storage approach helps ensure supply security and operational flexibility. The distribution and management of these materials are carefully coordinated based on economic factors and operational requirements, with regular adjustments made to accommodate the acquisition and conversion of uranium into fuel elements.
Under the Swiss Nuclear Energy Act and the Ordinance on the Application of Safeguards, Switzerland maintains strict oversight of its nuclear materials stored abroad. All foreign-stored nuclear materials must be declared annually to the supervisory authorities, ensuring transparency and compliance with international nuclear safety standards. This regulatory framework helps Switzerland maintain accurate records of its nuclear material inventory while meeting international obligations for nuclear material management.