This is how Russian-American 20 years’ partnership in processing of highly enriched uranium from Russian nuclear weapons into LEU for the needs of American nuclear stations has ended. In 1991 in The New York Times an article titled “A Grand Uranium Bargain” written by Thomas Neff was published. That’s when for the first time appeared the idea that the defense purposes uranium could be processed to LEU and used as fuel for NPPs. The idea was supported first by American and then by Russian government. In two years, in 1993, Russia and Washington made an agreement to convert 500 metric tons of HEU (uranium 235 enriched to 90 percent) taken from Soviet era warheads. Today the both parties are satisfied: in 20 years Russian budget has received $17 billion, while the US, due to our supplies, has got about 10% in addition to its energy (about 50% of NPP annual needs). Several Russian nuclear industry enterprises participated in implementation of the agreement, including Urals Electrochemical Combine, PA Electrochemical Plant, Siberian Chemical Combine, Angarsk Electrolysis Chemical Complex, and PA Mayak.
The first LEU was shipped to the US in May 1995, while in 2000 the program reached its annual average supply level of LEU, processed from 30 tons of HEU. “Thanks to this program about 7 trillion kW/h of power were produced in the US. The amount of uranium used would be enough to make about 20 thousand warheads”, – said the head of Russian State Corporation, Sergey Kiriyenko.
The last uranium shipment was preceded by a solemn ceremony, attended by Russian and American authorities, Russian and foreign companies’ representatives-members of the HEU-LEU program. They also had a panel discussion, went through details of the program preparation and realization, its significance in terms of nuclear disarmament and development of Russian-American partnership in the sphere of peaceful atom, answered questions of Russian and American mass media. The American party confirmed that TENEX’s contract obligations to USEC were completely fulfilled. This was placed on record in a joint declaration of the companies, signed during the ceremony. One of our reporters was present at the event and described his impressions.
On the dock of the Baltic Sea canal a gigantic Atlantic Ro-Ro Carriers ship, belonging to the company of the same name, is anchored, ready to receive its exceptionally valuable cargo. That’s when the delegation, headed by Technabexport General Director Liudmila Zalimskaya and, from American part, Philip Sewell, USEC senior Vice-President, arrives. Everyone feels inspired, the mood is excellent. The ultimate point of the event is when the employees and heads of the both companies, many of them have been working for the Megatons to Megawatts Program since 1993, write their kind wishes and messages on the uranium cylinders.
On board the delegation is welcomed by sea captain Andrey Konchak: “We’ve been exclusive HEU-LEU partners for the whole route, from A to B. Today we have our last journey and we are proud to admit that during the whole contract term there hasn’t been any emergency situation. The rules changed, got stricter but we reacted fast”.According to Mr. Konchak, all 5 vessels on the line do 6-7 sailings a year. It takes 2 weeks to get to Baltimore. During the last 20 years more than 10 thousand cylinders of HEU were supplied, each one weighing 3,5 tons. All the Atlantic Ro-Ro Carriers ships provide direct cargo delivery via the USA Eastern Coast and Saint-Petersburg without additional reloading in way ports.
All company’s vessels have two types of certificates: one for transport of dangerous goods and the other, additional, for class 7 cargos (radioactive materials). “HEU-LEU transportation is finished but it doesn’t mean we now have nothing to do, – says Konchak. – TENEX has contracts signed up to 2030. The same cargo will keep going to America, only upon different commercial conditions. The volume of our transportations won’t decrease, since we are known to be the best carriers of the 7 class cargo”.
Session until 5 a.m.
The containers, accompanied by cameras flashes’, are finally loaded on board. Everyone is aware of the historic moment taking place in front of their eyes. It’s not just economic importance for the both countries, it’s more than that. There were changes in the world – presidents, governments, parliaments; the agreement went through tough phases once in a while, however the parties always managed to reach a consensus.
From the very beginning among people managing the project there have been representatives of the fair sex: for our part, Liudmila Zalimskaya, today’s Director of TENEX, for American part Rose Gottemoeller, the United States Department of State’s Assistant Secretary for Arms Control, Verification and Compliance. Both ladies have always been aware of all the details of the intergovernmental agreement. As once said Rose Gottemoeller, sometimes the negotiations had lasted until 5 o’clock in the morning.
“The ship is about to depart, thus our company will fulfill its 20-year old task, – says Liudmila Zalimskaya. – During these years there have been many threats, the project could have just stopped. But as a result of team-work with our American colleagues we managed to complete it well”. The head of TENEX noted that any event should be looked at as a part of its time-context: “The decisions were based on diagnosis made in that particular period of time”.
According to Mrs. Zalimskaya the cooperation with America is going to continue, however with different conditions: “We both are nuclear countries and have to show the world a good example of arms cut”.
Philip Sewell, USEC Senior Vice President, in his turn, believes that the commercial part was very important for the HEU-LEU program. According to him, the project realization has shown that commercial interests can serve higher purposes and help fulfilling important state-level tasks. He also confirms readiness to implement the HEU-LEU model in other projects.
