The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Wednesday that about 2.5 tons of natural uranium stored at a facility in Libya has disappeared.

During their visit on Tuesday, inspectors from the UN IAEA found that 10 containers containing about 2.5 tons of concentrated natural uranium (“yellow pie”) “have not been declared by the authorities.” This was announced by the director general of the agency, Rafael Grossi, in a letter to member states.

The IAEA said it would conduct “further” investigations to “establish the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of this radioactive material and its current location.”

The inspection was supposed to take place last year, but was postponed due to the “security situation” in the country, the agency explained.

Mr. Grossi’s text does not provide any details about the location of the object.

Libya abandoned its nuclear program in 2003 during the reign of Muammar Gaddafi.

Its fall in 2011 after 42 years of dictatorship was accompanied by chaos and a major political crisis, two rival governments in the east and west of the country, many paramilitary organizations, mercenaries scattered across the country, amid the intervention of foreign powers.

The two governments continue to vie for power: one based in Tripoli in western Libya, recognized by the UN, the other in eastern Libya, backed by Marshal Khalifa Haftar.

Source: RES-IPE