Vyacheslav Malyshevsky, professor of Theoretical and Computer Physics Department of Southern Federal University

– Russia is entering the global nuclear energy market with new high technologies and innovative equipment

Russia significantly contributes to strengthening of nuclear nonproliferation regime, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Corporation Modamed ElBaradei and his successor Yukiya Amano said during their meeting with Director General of Rosatom State Nuclear Energy Corporation Sergey Kiriyenko in Vienna Sept 14 2009. The IAEA leaders said Russia was the only country consistently and transparently processing highly enriched uranium. Kiriyenko said that Russia was systematically retrieving fresh and spent highly enriched nuclear fuel from research reactors of Soviet design in third countries. The fuel was supplied to the reactors during the Soviet times in the framework of scientific-technical cooperation programs. Kiriyenko said that a cargo containing 500 kg of highly enriched uranium was delivered to one of the Russian ports Sept 14. The fuel would be enough for producing 7–8 bombs. But now after processing these 500 kg will be turned into low enriched fuel posing no threat to the nonproliferation regime.

Enormous efforts have been made in the past 40 years to prevent the accession of new states into the existing club of five nuclear powers. In 1957 the UN member states established an international atomic energy agency. One of the key functions of the Agency is to develop a system of measures and safeguards preventing the use of nuclear materials for military purposes.

However, the irony of it is that the international nuclear disarmament efforts have led to serious security problems. The dismantlement of nuclear bombs under the US-Russian disarmament agreement has resulted in accumulation of nuclear weapons-grade materials (plutonium and highly enriched uranium). These materials may be smuggled or stolen and get into the hands of terrorists or states ignoring the nuclear nonproliferation regime.

One of the best ways to ensure nuclear nonproliferation is the development of fast-breeder reactors and closed fuel cycle – i.e. the fields where Russia enjoys leading positions. During the Millennium Summit Russia suggested creating an innovative reactor technology based on closed fuel cycle as a solution to a whole number of problems, particularly, a way to prevent the possible use of nuclear energy for military purposes.

The first step in the framework of this initiative is the construction of BN-800 reactor at Beloyarsk Nuclear Power Plant. BN-800 is a reactor of new generation based on closed fuel cycle and able to burn weapons-grade plutonium and spent and depleted uranium – an almost inexhaustible resource. It would be the only effective way to remove weapons-grade plutonium from circulation. Such reactors would be an economically profitable instrument to ensure nuclear nonproliferation and to effect the ecological recovery of the planet. Russia has big experience of fast reactor operation and is entering the global nuclear energy market with new high technologies and equipment produced and tested by national researchers and manufacturers.

Russia has retrieved from a research reactor in Poland 500 kg of highly enriched uranium. The cargo was delivered to one of the Russian ports on Monday, Director General of Rosatom State Nuclear Energy Corporation Sergey Kiriyenkio said during his meetings with Director General of the International Atomic Energy Corporation Modamed ElBaradei and his successor Yukiya Amano in Vienna. During the IAEA 53rd general conference Russia and Serbia signed a contract for retrieval of spent fuel from Vinca research reactor. Vinca was shut down in 1984. The Government of Serbia is going to dismantle it. June 10 Russia and Serbia signed an inter-governmental agreement for return of fuel from Vinca to Russia. Serbia says that the estimated cost of the project is $54mln: Belgrade will provide $25mln, the EU and the United States – the rest. Russia is the only country consistently and transparently processing highly enriched uranium. As of today, the country has depleted 370 tons of weapons-grade uranium, which is equivalent to 14,700 nuclear bombs. By 2013 the country will process 130 tons more (i.e. 5,200 more bombs). Besides, Russia is systematically retrieving fresh and spent highly enriched nuclear fuel from research reactors of Soviet design in third countries. Since 2002 it has returned 470 kg of fresh and 415 kg of spent fuel from 12 countries. This fuel could hypothetically be used for production of 11 nuclear bombs.