”Megatons to Megawatts” Program is 15 years old

19.01.2009 // PR and Mass Media Department of Atomenergoprom OJSC

“Megatons to Megawatts” Program is 15 years old

On Jan 15 2009 HEU-LEU Agreement (also known as “Megatons to Megawatts” Program) marked its 15th anniversary. This agreement is aimed at strengthening the nuclear nonproliferation regime and enhancing strategic stability in the world.

Over 350 tons of highly enriched uranium (HEU) (equivalent to 14,000 nuclear warheads) have been recycled so far under the program, which is 70% of the total amount stipulated by the agreement.

Besides being an important instrument for ensuring international security and disarmament, HEU-LEU Agreement is also a mutually beneficial commercial project having significant influence on the present situation on the world uranium market. All the money received from the implementation of the program is transferred to the federal budget of Russia: over $7.6bln in the last 15 years. Over 26,000 tons of natural uranium component of low enriched uranium have been returned to Russia during the period, which will suffice the local nuclear industry for several years.

As regards the United States, the supplies under HEU-LEU Agreement meet almost half of the fuel demand of US nuclear power plants. Over 10,200 tons of low enriched uranium have been supplied by Russia to US NPPs under the agreement.
 
Feb 18 1993 the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Russian Federation signed an Agreement Concerning the Disposition of Highly Enriched Uranium Extracted from Nuclear Weapons (HEU-LEU Agreement, or “Megatons to Megawatts” Program).

Under this program United States purchases highly enriched weapons-grade uranium (HEU) that has been down-blended to low enriched uranium (LEU) for use in US commercial reactors. The 20-year program was founded in 1994 between the United States Enrichment Corporation (USEC), the United States’ primary nuclear fuel producer, and its Russian counterpart, Tekhsnabexport (Tenex).