Cablegate: Megaports Detects Radioactive Material in Manila

VZCZCXRO1024
OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHML #3619 3120550
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 080550Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8833
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS MANILA 003619

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION

DEPT PASS TO USDOE KRISTEN ASTOR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KNNP ASEC ENGR RP
SUBJECT: MEGAPORTS DETECTS RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL IN MANILA

(SBU) The Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) provided
Post a report of the detection of radioactive material at Manila
International Container Terminal (MICT).
On October 8, 2007 the MICT Central Alarm Station operator was
alerted to a high gamma ray reading in an outbound container of
scrap metal destined for Indonesia. The secondary inspection on the
following day confirmed the presence of a Cesium-137 (Cs-137)
source; the readings were taken from the front left side of the
container (50uSv/hr), and the front right side of the container
(23uSV/hr). The container of loose scrap metals and compact block
of scrap was opened on October 16, 2007; after two days of stripping
the container, the team located and isolated the Cs-137 source in a
metal bolt. The source was brought to PNRI to be stored at the
radioactive waste facility. The Cs-137 source did not present any
threat to the public, and the detection of the material shows that
the Megaports Initiative equipment is functioning correctly.

#KENNEY

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