The process of turning HEU into LEU for use as commercial nuclear fuel.  Downblending HEU to LEU effectively eliminates the risk that it could be used to make a nuclear weapon if stolen by terrorists

***These definitions do not represent the official views of any government or agency involved in the Nuclear Security Summit and are provided only to assist reporters unfamiliar with some of the commonly used terms in the field of nuclear security.*** 

Communiqué:

A national commitment or accomplishment that strengthens nuclear security.

Specific nuclear security commitments from

  Sherpas are the officially designated officials who represent their governments in preparations for the Nuclear Security Summits.  Their tasks include planning the Summit’s content and agenda and negotiating consensus documents.  

  Created at the first Nuclear Security Summit in 2010, the Washington Work Plan provides detailed guidance for concrete national and international actions to implement the pledges in the 2010 Washington Communiqu

Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM): 

The CPPNM/A strengthens the original treaty in a number of ways, including by imposing requirements for the physical protection of nuclear material for peaceful purposes in domestic use as well as in domestic and international transport.  It will enter into force once two-thirds of the CPPNM’s members ratify the Amendment.