US embassy cable - 05BOGOTA10890

UNCLAS BOGOTA 010890 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PTER, ENRG, EPET, CO 
SUBJECT: DIAGNOSTIC RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL STOLEN FROM 
ECOPETROL 
 
1. Summary.  Colombian state oil company Ecopetrol confirmed 
that a small container of diagnostic radioactive material was 
stolen from one of its facilities in early October.  The 
material is used to measure flow rates through its oil 
pipelines and contains a very low concentration of Cesium-137 
that does not pose a WMD threat. End summary. 
 
2.  In late October, contacts at Colombian state oil company 
Ecopetrol confirmed that a lead container holding radioactive 
material was stolen from Ayacucho Station in La Gloria, Cesar 
Department earlier that month.  The container (approximately 
the size of a one-gallon paint can) holds a mixture that 
includes Cesium-137 (plutonium is not/not an ingredient). 
Ecopetrol uses the material to measure the density of the 
products that are transported through its pipelines. 
Ecopetrol officials stated that the concentration of 
radioactive material was very low and that it was very 
unlikely the container's contents could be used in the 
creation of a "dirty bomb". 
 
3.  Ecopetrol officials presume that the container was stolen 
for the lead casing and used for scrap since this has 
occurred on limited occasions in the past.  As soon as 
Ecopetrol discovered the theft, it sent word to scrap metal 
traders to warn them of the health hazards of opening the 
container.  Ecopetrol also issued a press release warning the 
public of the severe health hazards; the press release led to 
a media announcement in national newspaper El Tiempo on 
October 23.  Colombian police are still working to locate the 
container. 
DRUCKER