Developing countries on June 18 blocked plans by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for nuclear fuel banks that aim to keep countries from acquiring sensitive nuclear technology by offering them alternatives, Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) reported. The Vienna-based agency and Western countries had hoped the IAEA’s governing board would give the green light for fleshing out plans to sway countries to buy rather than make nuclear fuel, by offering an insurance in case their supply is cut off for political reasons. A joint statement by the developing countries in the board said that “none of the proposals provide a proper assurance of supply of nuclear fuel.” This stance of the Group of 77 coalition of developing countries and the Non-Aligned Movement stalled efforts to make rapid progress on these concepts, which IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei first proposed in 2003. The 35 members of the board agreed only that the nuclear agency “may continue its consultations and discussions” to further work on the fuel bank proposals, according to diplomats at the meeting.