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Reference ID	Created	Released	Classification	Origin
10STATE5218	2010-01-19 22:04	2011-08-30 01:44	UNCLASSIFIED	Secretary of State

VZCZCXRO2248
RR RUEHSL
DE RUEHC #5218/01 0192211
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 192204Z JAN 10
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI 0304
RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 4648
RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT 2120
RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ASTANA 4228
RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS 2126
RUEHKB/AMEMBASSY BAKU 9936
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 5733
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2509
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT 2098
RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK 6606
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 1780
RUEHSL/AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA 0851
RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 6085
RUEHBM/AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST 2872
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 0507
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 4932
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 6615
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 2591
RUEHDJ/AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI 1611
RUEHHI/AMEMBASSY HANOI 0965
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 5916
RUEHKG/AMEMBASSY KINGSTON 0694
RUEHKL/AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR 3733
RUEHKV/AMEMBASSY KYIV 3079
RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON 8476
RUEHLJ/AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA 7090
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 8847
RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID 3643
RUEHML/AMEMBASSY MANILA 3914
RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO 0236
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 6517
RUEHMS/AMEMBASSY MUSCAT 1735
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 0397
RUEHBH/AMEMBASSY NASSAU 0521
RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA 5940
RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA 0511
RUEHPF/AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH 0759
RUEHRA/AMEMBASSY RIGA 2244
RUEHDG/AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO 0459
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 2823
RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE 2548
RUEHSF/AMEMBASSY SOFIA 4549
RUEHTL/AMEMBASSY TALLINN 0608
RUEHNT/AMEMBASSY TASHKENT 1976
RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI 2192
RUEHTG/AMEMBASSY TEGUCIGALPA 6289
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 0450
RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 7516
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1958
RUEHUM/AMEMBASSY ULAANBAATAR 7785
RUEHVT/AMEMBASSY VALLETTA 7765
RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA 0559
RUEHVL/AMEMBASSY VILNIUS 3139
RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW 5777
RUEHYE/AMEMBASSY YEREVAN 8335
RUEHVB/AMEMBASSY ZAGREB 3806
RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI 5632
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 5986

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 STATE 005218 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ENRG KNNP IAEA XA XB XC XD XF XG XH XL XM
SUBJECT: IF-ASKED POINTS ON HELIUM-3 SHORTAGE FOR POSTS IN 
COUNTRIES WITH SLD CORE PROGRAM AND MEGAPORTS INITIATIVE 
INSTALLATIONS 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. Please protect accordingly. 
 
------- 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
¶1. (SBU) Due to an enormous increase in demand over the past 
few years for helium-3 (He-3) in neutron detection 
(particularly in radiation portal monitors), the USG does not 
have enough He-3 in stock to meet current demand over the 
next few years.  The USG has made the decision to defer 
allocation of He-3 for radiation portal monitors.  While 
diplomatic efforts are underway to raise awareness of the 
shortage and find solutions, Posts in countries that have 
already received, or will receive, equipment under the 
Department of Energy,s Second Line of Defense (SLD) Core 
Program and Megaports Initiative may find themselves the 
recipients of queries from their host governments about 
future support of these installations.  This cable provides 
talking points to respond to queries.  However, no proactive 
action is requested of Posts at this time. 
 
END SUMMARY. 
 
---------- 
BACKGROUND 
---------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) He-3 has been typically produced by the radioactive 
decay of tritium (H-3).  He-3 is used in a range of 
 
STATE 00005218  002 OF 005 
 
SUBJECT: IF-ASKED POINTS ON HELIUM-3 SHORTAGE FOR POSTS IN 
COUNTRIES WITH SLD CORE PROGRAM AND MEGAPORTS INITIATIVE 
INSTALLATIO 
applications, including medical imaging, oil/gas exploration, 
cryogenics and low temperature physics, and neutron 
detection.  After 9/11, the latter application increased 
demand on the U.S. stockpile, as nuclear security-related 
radiation detection systems were deployed domestically and 
abroad. 
 
END BACKGROUND. 
 
---------- 
FACT SHEET 
---------- 
 
¶3. (U) The following fact sheet was produced for use in 
diplomatic fora in autumn 2009. 
 
Addressing the Worldwide Helium-3 Shortage 
Fact Sheet 
 
Purpose 
 
There is a worldwide shortage of the helium-3 (He-3) isotope, 
which has a variety of applications, including nuclear 
security and safeguards.  Greater international cooperation 
is needed to increase the supply and decrease the demand for 
this valuable resource.  The isotope, a decay product from 
tritium, is a non-reactive, non-corrosive gas which is 
currently the material of choice for neutron detection, 
providing fewer false positives than other techniques.  In 
addition, it is finding widespread use in such areas as 
cryogenics, medical imaging and diagnostics, and oil/gas 
exploration. 
 
Without a concerted international effort, the supply will 
soon be short of the projected international demand by 
approximately a factor of 10.  The United States is 
 
STATE 00005218  003 OF 005 
 
SUBJECT: IF-ASKED POINTS ON HELIUM-3 SHORTAGE FOR POSTS IN 
COUNTRIES WITH SLD CORE PROGRAM AND MEGAPORTS INITIATIVE 
INSTALLATIO 
interested in:  (1) working with possible supplier nations to 
harvest He-3, (2) working with He-3 users to better use their 
stocks, and (3) investigating alternatives to He-3-based 
systems.  Since most of the demand for He-3 gas is for 
portal-type monitors, international safeguards, and basic 
science R&D, investigation of these three alternatives would 
benefit from the participation of the relevant international 
technical groups. 
 
The purpose of this fact sheet is to make potential users 
aware of the He-3 shortage and identify U.S. contacts for 
entering into bi-lateral or multi-lateral discussions. 
 
Points of Contact 
 
We request your assistance in developing a better 
understanding of the needs of the international safeguards 
and security community.  In support of this effort, we have 
set up a special e-mail address:  helium3@hq.doe.gov for 
exchanging information. 
 
Contact people are: 
 
U.S. Department of State 
Michael Curry 
 
U.S. Department of Energy 
Joseph Glaser 
 
END FACT SHEET. 
 
-------------------------------------------- 
IF-ASKED TALKING POINTS ON MEGAPORTS AND SLD 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) These points may be provided if Post is queried by 
 
STATE 00005218  004 OF 005 
 
SUBJECT: IF-ASKED POINTS ON HELIUM-3 SHORTAGE FOR POSTS IN 
COUNTRIES WITH SLD CORE PROGRAM AND MEGAPORTS INITIATIVE 
INSTALLATIO 
its host government about whether there will continue to be 
support for the SLD Core Program and Megaports Initiative. 
Post is not requested to proactively contact its host 
government. 
 
-- The United States will continue to support the SLD Core or 
Megaports installation in your country.  Already deployed 
equipment is not affected and deployments scheduled for FY10 
and FY11 will continue as planned using portal monitors with 
He-3 detectors.  Further into the future, the He-3 shortage 
may limit deployment of equipment using this material, but 
alternative technologies can be used to ensure that the same 
capability is present at these installations. 
 
-- Note, too, that He-3 is used only for neutron detection. 
The current gamma ray detection technologies are unaffected 
by this shortage. 
 
END IF-ASKED TALKING POINTS ON MEGAPORTS AND SLD. 
 
-------------------------- 
FOR EMBASSY ISLAMABAD ONLY 
-------------------------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) BACKGROUND:  While Pakistan does not have a signed 
Memorandum of Understanding on SLD or Megaports, it has been 
operating a Secure Freight Initiative (SFI) program, which 
they are looking to expand.  END BACKGROUND 
 
¶6. (SBU) IF-ASKED FOR PAKISTAN ONLY 
 
-- The United States will continue to support the SFI 
installation in your country.  Already deployed equipment is 
not affected and deployments scheduled for FY10 and FY11 will 
continue as planned using equipment with He-3 detectors. 
Further into the future, the He-3 shortage may limit 
 
STATE 00005218  005 OF 005 
 
SUBJECT: IF-ASKED POINTS ON HELIUM-3 SHORTAGE FOR POSTS IN 
COUNTRIES WITH SLD CORE PROGRAM AND MEGAPORTS INITIATIVE 
INSTALLATIO 
deployment of equipment using this material, but alternative 
technologies can be used to ensure that the same capability 
is present at these installations. 
 
END FOR EMBASSY ISLAMABAD ONLY 
 
------------------------------- 
IF-ASKED TALKING POINTS ON JMOX 
------------------------------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) For TOKYO and UNVIE only.  These points may be 
provided if Post is queried about the status of He-3 supplies 
for applying international safeguards to the Japanese Mixed 
Oxide (JMOX) fuel fabrication plant, which is scheduled to 
start construction in May 2010. 
 
-- The United States is seeking to meet He-3 requirements for 
applying international safeguards at the JMOX facility. 
 
-- While we have not yet allocated He-3 for this safeguards 
installation, we are seeking to clarify the requirements and 
identify additional sources of He-3 that may be used to meet 
those requirements. 
 
END IF-ASKED TALKING POINTS ON JMOX 
 
----------------- 
POINTS OF CONTACT 
----------------- 
 
¶8. (U) Washington thanks Posts for their assistance in this 
regard.  Please slug questions to points of contact in 
paragraph 3. 
CLINTON

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