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News Review Special EditionBack to the Contents of News Review Special Edition International Developments, February 1 - April 1, 2003Agreement on Russia Plutonium Reactor ShutdownsOn March 12, US Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham and Russian Atomic Energy Minister Aleksandr Rumyantsev signed an Implementing Agreement designed, in the words of an Energy Department press release, to "facilitate the shutdown of three Russian nuclear reactors that currently produce plutonium for military purposes". The signing ceremony was held in Vienna during the International Conference on Security of Radioactive Sources (see above). Under the deal, according to the DOE summary, the "United States will provide support to the Russian Federation for provision of replacement fossil energy plants." The press release continues: "The Implementing Agreement details the rights and responsibilities of each country regarding US assistance for the construction and refurbishment of the fossil fuel plants. In Seversk, an existing fossil fuel plant will be modernized. In Zheleznogorsk, the construction of a new facility will be required. The Russian Federation will be responsible for the shutdown and decommissioning of the three existing nuclear reactors. The new agreement will allow for the implementation of the Elimination of Weapons-Grade Plutonium Production Program, which is a cooperative effort between the US Department of Energy and the Russian Ministry of Atomic Energy. The three reactors are located in the cities of Seversk and Zheleznogorsk in Siberia. The reactors have approximately 15 years of remaining life and, as a group, could generate an additional 25 metric tons of plutonium, the equivalent of approximately one additional nuclear weapon per day. The three reactors will continue to operate until the fossil-replacement plants are completed and begin operations." Speaking after the signing, Secretary Abraham noted: "This is an important step in advancing our non-proliferation programs between the United States and Russia. Replacing these reactors with fossil fuel energy is critical in eliminating the production of weapons-grade plutonium in Russia and closing these facilities." Since regaining its independence in 1991, Russia has shut down 10 plutonium-producing reactors. In 1997, Washington and Moscow reached agreement on a programme to shutdown the remaining three plants by 2001. According to reports, production at Seversk will now continue until 2008, and production at Zheleznogorsk until 2011. The delays to the original schedule have apparently been caused by severe financial and logistical difficulties, including the problem of providing alternative work for the thousands of technicians employed at the plants. The reactors also represent the main source of energy for two former Soviet 'nuclear cities', Tomsk-7 and Krasnoyarsk-26. Related material on Acronym website:Reports: US and Russia agree to plan to shutdown three remaining Russian plutonium production reactors, US Department of Energy Press Release, PR-03-055, March 12; US, Russia sign reactor shutdown deal, Associated Press, March 12. © 2002 The Acronym Institute. |