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RANSAC Nuclear News, March 21, 2003 Compiled by Lauren Arestie A. Plutonium Production Reactor Shutdown and Conversion
 A. Plutonium Production Reactor Shutdown and Conversion 1. US insists on wider access to Russian closed cities under replacement capacities projects The financial assistance provided by the US Department of Energy (US DOE) to create replacement capacities under the agreement signed in Vienna March 15 concerning shutdown of three Russian power reactors producing non-power-grade plutonium will be: for Seversk � 125 mln USD, for Zheleznogorsk � 169 mln USD. As Nuclear.Ru was informed by a Minatom�s official, 14 mln USD would be allocated for safety improvements at ADE-2 reactor of the Mining and Chemical Combine (MCC) and ADE-4 and ADE-5 reactors of the Siberian Chemical Combine (SCC). According to the Minatom�s official, these numbers were in the US DOE report to the US Congress. The official stresses, however, that these were preliminary numbers since under the agreement terms �the size of assistance may be increased provided the sides achieve agreement in writing in accordance with the amendment procedure�. The Minatom�s official noted that �if it is required to reasonably increase the financing and if it is proved that this will shorten the project implementation timeframe, there is a likelihood of reaching the agreement�. �The conceptual design of Seversk district heating plant (DHP) modernization as SCC proposes is estimated 125 mln USD but only the detail design will allow to estimate it precisely, and it is likely to be higher�, he said. �For example, the conceptual design presupposes replacement of heating surfaces of heat exchangers but we want to propose to replace the mere heat exchangers. This will take less time but more money�. The ministry official added that �this aspect has not been discussed with the US side, however, such implementation time-saving proposals will be made and the most likely that the US side will agree to increase costs since it is interested in expeditious termination of non-power-grade plutonium production.� He also informed that within the framework of the agreement the US-Russia access negotiations were held March 19. �Seversk DHP is located in the city of Seversk where access is restricted. It is necessary to make out how many visits the Americans would need to monitor the DHP modernization work�, Minatom�s official said. According to him, this mainly deals with payments for work done because the US side will be paying by results. So far the sides have not reached an agreement � the US insists on more visits while Russia disagrees. However the Minatom�s official believes that the negotiations on this issue will not slow down the project implementation since in the US DOE has called for tender to select an integrating contractor which would manage the project. The tender is participated by four companies: Pechtel National Inc., Kellog Brown & Root, Raytheon Tech Services Company, and Washington Group International. The US DOE is to announce the contractor in April with the contract to be concluded in July. �So we have time to reach the agreement�, stressed the Minatom�s official. Meantime, as Nuclear.Ru was informed by Vladimir Shidlovski, the SCC Director General, the combine had started work on designs of new replacement capacities since due to ADE-4 and ADE-5 reactors� shutdown about 2,000 jobs would be downsized at the reactor operations and at the associated radiochemical productions. A joint working group including Minatom of Russia, SCC, Tomsk regional administration and Sevelsk local authorities has been set up to address this issue. March 18 the group had it first meeting attended by Mikhail Solonin, the First Deputy Minister for Atomic Energy. �The task to create replacement capacities has been set and an SCC development program is being drafted to solve it. That will include development of replacement capacities in terms of new facilities, new jobs rather than the power sources. Then we will have to address financial issues jointly with Minatom�, V. Shidlovski said. He also noted that the Siberian NPP project is in no way linked to the replacement capacities issue. �We carry out a feasibility study for creating a two-unit NPP with VVER-1000 reactors at SCC site. Generally, the investment cycle is 10 to 12 years. That means that we can have something real beyond 2010�, he said. return to menu B. Multilateral Threat Reduction 1. TACIS RW reprocessing facility project starts at Smolensk NPP The kick-off meeting to implement TACIS-2000 focused on construction of a radwaste reprocessing complex was held at Smolensk NPP, as Nuclear.Ru was informed by Rosenergoatom Concern press-center. The meeting was participated by representatives from Rosenergoatom Concern, Atomtekhenergo, BENIC of the UK, British Energy (UK), Moscow�s TACIS Monitoring Bureau, TACIS Monitoring Bureau. This TACIS project plans for construction of a complex to reprocess radioactive waste (RC radwaste) which would use key components supplied under TACIS Program. The detailed design was developed by Atomenergoproekt Institute. The complex will improve reliability of protection of the personnel, population and environment during radwaste reprocessing. An additional advantage is the demonstration and implementation of new safety culture-oriented methods. The project cost is 80 million euros, including TACIS contribution of 10 million euros. The RC radwaste idea is based on the IAEA recommendations regarding radwaste storage as conditioned and retrievable, as well as on the Russian Federation radwaste treatment concept, which presupposes its sorting (by activity and categories) and conditioning (pressing, incinerating, cementing, melting, and decontamination). Meeting participants appraised Smolensk NPP for its preparedness for implementing the project and decided to start the work in April 2003 after the subcontract between BENIC and the leading Russian contractor, Atomtekhenergo, is signed. return to menu 2. Sweden Joins Donors To Dispose Of Russian Nuclear Waste STOCKHOLM - Sweden is allocating US$500,000 to finance nuclear waste disposal projects based in the Murmansk Region, Russia's Northwest. The Swedish international nuclear safety project, the Murmansk Region and SevRAO Co., affiliated to Russia's Ministry of Nuclear Power Industry, signed a respective contract in Stockholm today. This particular project concerns solid nuclear waste utilization in Andreyev Bay. Sweden is donating half a million dollars to study locally stored nuclear waste and depleted fuel, and eventually assemble equipment to press the substance for removal from the area, says Yuri Yevdokimov, Murmansk regional governor, who attended the signing ceremony. The contract has great symbolism as Sweden has never before been directly involved in Russian nuclear waste disposal, stressed Mr. Yevdokimov. SevRAO Co. will represent the Ministry of Nuclear Power Industry to spend the contract allocations. The project is not new to the area. It has implemented seven similar Russo-Norwegian projects to spend a total 49 million kroner within two years and a half. Another contract with Norway will be signed in April. Great Britain is also active in Russian nuclear waste disposal, says the governor. return to menu C. Russia-U.S. 1. Russia against US-Led War, but Some Conciliatory Voices Heard (excerpted) Although Russia has voiced its strong opposition to the attack on Iraq, Moscow appears to be trying not to undermine completely its ties with the world's only superpower. President Vladimir Putin said Thursday he regretted the action against Iraq without U.N. approval, describing it as unjustified and "a grave political mistake." He insisted that the war should end as quickly as possible and said the U.N. should play "a central role in restoring peace and solving Iraqi problems." Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov also expressed regret over the strikes and pledged to provide assistance to Iraqi civilians. Other reaction has seen the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, indefinitely postpone a vote to ratify a U.S.-Russian nuclear arms reduction agreement. The Moscow Treaty, which was ratified by the U.S. Congress earlier this month, will see Russia and the U.S. cut their strategic nuclear arsenals by about two-thirds. One Communist Party lawmaker accused President Bush of launching World War III, while another resigned in protest from a Duma group that interacts with the U.S. Congress. In the weeks leading up to the war, Russia made clear its opposition to the use of force to disarm Iraq, threatening along with France to use the veto it enjoys as a permanent member of the Security Council. Up to the last moment, Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov was arguing against a war, telling the Security Council on Wednesday that an attack would undermine the international war on terrorism. The Kremlin's official line corresponds with the public mood. In a Center to Study Public Opinion survey, 71 percent of respondents said they viewed the U.S. as a threat to peace, while only 45 percent saw Iraq as the menace. (Many respondents saw both as a danger, hence the total exceeding 100 percent.) The poll also found that anti-American sentiment in Russia is running as high as it did during the U.S.-led NATO military operation in Yugoslavia in 1999. However, that will merely serve to remind many Russians that Moscow's vocal protests at the time were ineffective in stopping the NATO operation four years ago. Some voices have raised concerns about Russia's economic interests in a post-Saddam Iraq. Ivanov said Russia would need to work to convince a new government in Baghdad to honor contracts awarded to Russian oil companies by the current regime. Russia's Security Council secretary, Vladimir Rushailo, said Russia would use international institutions to challenge any decision by a new administration to cancel the contracts. These concerns may be behind the somewhat conciliatory tone now heard from some officials here. Russia must not quarrel with its American "partners" because the fight against international terrorism and non-proliferation remained "strategic tasks" in the partnership, said Mikhail Margelov, head of the international relations committee of the Federation Council, Russia's equivalent to the U.S. Senate. Ivanov also said Russia and the U.S. remain partners, according to a report in Pravda. [...] return to menu 2. Duma Buries SOR Treaty, Upper House For Debates The State Duma, the Russian parliament's lower house, has refused to ratify the SOR (Strategic Offensive Reductions) Treaty. The Federation Council, upper house, will debate the issue at its nearest Council session, March 25. The Duma has removed the matter from its agenda. The situation alarms the Federation Council committee for international affairs, Mikhail Margelov, committee head, said to the media. The Russo-US treaty came as a diplomatic triumph of the Russian top, and it's a bad error to tie it in with the Iraqi developments, he warned. Next Tuesday's session will also analyse the situation around Iraq, added the senator. return to menu 3. Resolute About War (excerpted) [...] While Russia does not share our point of view regarding Iraq, our bilateral relationship can weather this disagreement because there is much that pulls us together: our common cause against terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; our desire to promote investments in Russia and expand energy trade. As Powell stressed on Tuesday, we have had other disagreements with the Russian Federation, and we have been able to find common ground and move on. When I arrived as ambassador in July 2001, we were arguing over the future of the ABM Treaty and missile defense. In May 2002, our presidents signed the Treaty of Moscow to reduce strategic nuclear weapons, and we're now discussing ways of cooperating on missile defense. Disagreements will arise, but as long as we stay focused on our common interests, we can get through them and keep the relationship growing. [...] return to menu 4. Bush�s Brezhnev Doctrine (excerpted) [...] This week, to signal its disapproval of U.S. actions, the State Duma decided under instructions from the Kremlin and Foreign Ministry to postpone the ratification of the Moscow Treaty limiting strategic nuclear weapons that was signed by Presidents George W. Bush and Vladimir Putin last May. Putin begged Bush to sign this "legally binding" agreement, while many in Washington argued no treaty was needed. Not many in Washington will cry if the treaty is never ratified. The move to stop a ratification that Moscow needs more than Washington reflects the confusion of our elite as we see the old world order, in which we were an important player, collapse as a result of our own -- together with France's -- diplomatic insanity. [...] return to menu 5. Russian Deputies Shelve Treaty: Arms Control Postponed to Protest U.S. War Plans The lower house of the Russian parliament today put off a vote on ratification of an arms control treaty with the United States after angry legislators accused the Bush administration of setting the stage for a world war. Leaders of the lower house, the State Duma, said the dramatic cuts in nuclear warheads envisioned under the treaty should not be considered at a time when the United States has flouted international law and tried to strong-arm countries, such as Russia, that objected to its policy on Iraq. The vote had been scheduled for Friday. The Duma speaker, Gennady Seleznev, who until recently was a Communist Party member, suggested the accord might be shelved indefinitely if the United States invaded Iraq, because an attack would usher in "the law of the jungle" in international relations. "The strong will trample the weak. And we don't want to be weak. Therefore, we will still need the missiles," he said. Other lawmakers predicted that the treaty would be approved, perhaps as soon as the Duma resumes work on April 1 after a break. "The deputies are angry," said Sergei Shishkaryov, deputy head of the foreign affairs committee. "But they still understand how important this treaty is for Russia." When they signed the treaty last May, President Bush and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, cast it as a dramatic sign of the improvement in U.S.-Russian relations since the end of the Cold War. The three-page agreement commits both countries to reduce their nuclear warheads by roughly two-thirds, from 6,000 warheads apiece to between 1,700 and 2,200. Russia pushed hard for the cuts in large part because it can no longer afford to maintain its stockpile. The U.S. Senate unanimously approved the agreement March 6 as part of an effort by the Bush administration to encourage Russia not to block a U.N. resolution that would have authorized a military strike on Iraq. Putin opposed the now-moot resolution but still tried to preserve the spirit of good will that has prevailed between the two countries since the terror attacks of September 11, 2001. The Duma typically follows instructions from Putin's office in the Kremlin obediently. But in this case, deputies put Putin's wishes aside to vent their unhappiness over U.S. policy on Iraq and, some analysts said, to win points with voters before parliamentary elections in December. "This is a silly thing because our relations with the United States are not simple and there is a threat that they will deteriorate," said Vladimir Ryzhkov, an independent Duma deputy. "Now it would be important to give a positive signal, not a negative one." The Kremlin had no immediate comment, but Mikhail Margelov, an influential lawmaker close to the Kremlin, said the Duma had voted against Russia's interests. return to menu 6. Federation Council Speaker: SOR Ratification Postponement Untimely MOSCOW - The postponement of the ratification of the Treaty on Strategic Offensive Reductions by the State Duma (lower house of the Russian Parliament) is untimely, Federation Council (upper house of the Russian Parliament) Speaker Sergei Mironov told the media after the Council's session on Tuesday. The Treaty's ratification must be continued until war in Iraq breaks out. If the situation around Iraq changes, the ratification should be viewed from a different angle. He said, "the Treaty is of great strategic significance for Russia's national security and international affairs." "The international community and Russia are carrying on with their efforts to avoid military action in Iraq," Mironov said. The speaker believes that George Bush's ultimatum to Saddam Hussein could be extended. "History knows many such examples when ultimatums were prolonged," he said. return to menu 7. Senator Margelov Criticises Postponement Of Ratification Of The Treaty On Strategic Offensive Reductions MOSCOW - The decision of the Council of the State Duma (the lower house of the Russian parliament) to postpone the ratification of the Treaty on Strategic Offensive Reductions has been dictated not by "the concern about the interests of the state, but by pre-election considerations." The chairman of the international committee of the Federation Council (the upper house of the Russian parliament), Mikhail Margelov, said as much in an interview with the press on Tuesday. In his opinion, this decision contradicts "both common sense and the position of the majority in the State Duma." The senator underscored that one of the most important lessons of the Iraqi crisis is that "Russia's missile-nuclear potential remains the basis of the country's sovereignty and independence in decision-making." "The Treaty on Strategic Offensive Reductions, which provides for cuts in offensive armaments, also allows Russia to raise the effectiveness of its strategic armaments," Margelov told reporters. He stressed that the position of the Russian leadership was that this treaty would help strengthen strategic stability, and "nothing at the present time indicates that this position has changed." "The statement made by the State Duma members that postponing the consideration of the question about the ratification of the Treaty on Strategic Offensive Reductions is connected with the aggravation of the situation with regard to Iraq is an erroneous logic," Mikhail Margelov is convinced. return to menu 8. Duma Postpones Ratification Of Russian-Us Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty MOSCOW- The State Duma has postponed the ratification of the Russian-American Strategic Offensive Reductions (SOR) Treaty. This decision was taken at a State Duma meeting on Tuesday, Chairman of the Duma Defence Committee Andrei Nikolayev told journalists on Tuesday. This is due to the escalating situation around Iraq, he said. Nikolayev avoided mentioning a new date for the consideration of the Treaty. Previously it was scheduled for Friday, March 21st. The issue of ratifying the SOR Treaty can be discussed in the State Duma in early April, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma International Committee Sergei Shishkarev said at a press conference following the Duma meeting. However, Shishkarev also said it was possible for the ratification of the document to be postponed to a later date. "Everything will depend on the development of the Iraqi crisis, and the influence of Russia's opinion on the development of the conflict," the Russian MP said. At today's meeting the Duma International Committee withdrew its proposal to confirm the ratification of the Strategic Offensive Reductions (SOR) Treaty in the State Duma agenda for March 21st, Shishkarev stated. The Committee is convinced that ratification of this document is crucial, the deputy pointed out. However, the current Iraqi developments and the US President's ultimatum does not allow the State Duma to consider ratification of the document," Shishkarev stressed. return to menu 9. Duma Delays US Arms Treaty Ratification MOSCOW - Russia's lower house of parliament on Tuesday decided to indefinitely put off a vote on ratification of a U.S.-Russia nuclear arms treaty due to the U.S. threat of impending force against Iraq. "After yesterday's statement by the president of the United States, and in conditions of massive pressure by the U.S. administration on the world community, a decision to postpone the ratification was taken," said Sergei Shishkaryov, the deputy chairman of the international affairs committee in the lower house, or State Duma. "We consider ratification very important, but now this step is not justified," he said, adding that "in essence, we are standing on the threshold of World War III." Russian lawmakers had planned to submit the treaty to the full Duma for a vote on Friday. The decision Tuesday by the Duma Council, which sets the agenda for the legislature, did not include a new date, and Shishkaryov said the council would again take up the matter of timing only in April. The treaty, agreed last May by Putin and Bush, calls on both nations to cut their strategic nuclear arsenals by about two-thirds, to 1,700 to 2,200 deployed warheads each, by 2012. The speaker of Russia's upper house of parliament, the Federation Council, suggested Tuesday that the Duma's decision to postpone a vote was "premature." The treaty must be approved by both houses. "This treaty plays an important strategic role for both Russia and the United States," Sergei Mironov was quoted as saying by the Interfax Military News agency. "In ratifying this document, it is above all necessary to have long-term strategic interests in view." Mikhail Margelov, head of the Federation Council's foreign affairs committee, also criticized the Duma decision, saying it ran "counter to common sense," Interfax reported. The U.S. Senate unanimously approved the treaty earlier this month, a move that was widely seen as part of the U.S. diplomatic effort to win Russian support for a tougher line against Iraq. Russia has long argued for Iraq to be disarmed solely through diplomatic pressure. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday condemned military action against Iraq, warning that war would be a mistake that could imperil world security. The Kremlin had earlier made clear that it would not approve a U.S.-backed resolution in the U.N. Security Council that would open the way to military conflict. U.S. President George W. Bush withdrew the resolution on Monday, and gave Saddam Hussein 48 hours to leave Iraq or face war. return to menu 10. Duma Postpones US Arms Pact Debate Over Iraq Russia�s lower house, the State Duma, postponed a vote on ratification of a U.S.-Russia nuclear arms treaty because of differences over the Iraq crisis, a parliamentary official has said. Deputies were due to discuss ratification of the so-called Moscow Treaty, calling on the US and Russia to cut their strategic nuclear arsenals by about two-thirds, on March 21, but this has been now put back to at least the beginning of April, deputy chairman of the Duma�s foreign affairs committee Sergei Shishkaryov said on Tuesday. Shishkaryov linked the move to the U.S. push for military action against Iraq's Saddam Hussein and accused Washington of ''ignoring the position of Russia''. He said the decision by the Duma had been taken because of ''unprecedented pressure'' exerted on Russia and other countries seeking a peaceful settlement to the crisis. The Duma�s defence committee chairman Andrei Nikolayev said the ratification will not be discussed this week at all. He said it was also decided not to consider the issue at the Friday plenary session of the Duma. Earlier the head of the foreign affairs committee Dmitri Rogozin told Interfax that ''it is felt that consideration of the matter in such an unfavourable political situation would be inappropriate''. The Kremlin and the Foreign Ministry were quoted however as saying they did not want to see the arms deal, agreed by President Vladimir Putin and President George W. Bush, to fall victim to the Iraq crisis. Ekho Moskvy radio station quoted Putin's representative in the Duma as saying the vote on ratification had been put back despite "strong pressure" from the Kremlin to push it through. The Moscow Treaty, agreed last May, calls on the United States and Russia to cut their strategic nuclear arsenals by about two-thirds to 1,700 to 2,200 deployed warheads by 2012. Russian lawmakers have been strongly supporting Iraq and criticizing the Bush administrations plans to unleash the military campaign against the country. In the past weeks delegation of Duma deputies visited Baghdad, pledging support to the Iraqi leader. On Monday evening, just as the US ordered UN inspectors, diplomats and journalists to leave Iraq, the Russian president, siding with France and Germany, once again called for last-minute attempts to solve the Iraq crisis peacefully, saying any resort to force would be both a mistake and illegal. Russia has aligned itself with France and Germany in calling for further U.N. arms inspections to ensure that Iraq is free of what the United States says are illegal weapons. Like France, a fellow permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, it has threatened to veto any new resolution endorsing military action. President Vladimir Putin, speaking before the United States and Britain said they would no longer seek a vote for a new resolution endorsing force, said any approach other than peaceful disarmament would be a mistake. ''We would like to resolve it through political and diplomatic means,'' he told reporters. ''I am convinced that any other solution would be a mistake.'' Putin, who has made infrequent statements at home on the crisis, said war "will not only bring about human casualties but also destabilize the international community in general. ''There are 20 million Muslims living in Russia. We cannot afford not to consider their opinion and we fully share their alarm,'' he added. Both Washington and Britain say military action now against Iraq would be legal. But Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, speaking after the abandonment of Washington's bid to seek U.N. endorsement for war, said existing U.N. Security Council resolutions gave no one any legal right to launch a strike on Iraq. ''We believe the use of force against Iraq, especially with reference to previous resolutions of the U.N. Security Council, has no grounds, including legal grounds,'' Ivanov told reporters. Ivanov said resolution 1441 of last November, under which U.N. weapons inspections were resumed, gave no endorsement. ''Resolution 1441, to which so many references are made, does not give anyone the right to use force automatically,'' he said. That resolution, approved unanimously, spoke of ''serious consequences'' if Iraq failed to comply with demands to disarm. Ivanov said the resolution contained a clause obliging Security Council members, if necessary, to meet immediately to ensure Iraq's strict implementation of its terms. There was still a chance, he said, for diplomacy to succeed. Georgy Mamedov, a deputy foreign minister, said Russia would do its best to minimise differences with Washington. "Russia will not launch an anti-American campaign, but will try its utmost to return the situation to a proper legal basis," Mamedov was quoted as telling Itar-Tass news agency. ''We will not gloat over a tragic mistake by the United States or start a noisy campaign. Our relations are too important for international peace to hold them hostage to differences over the Iraq problem.'' return to menu 11. Duma Debate On SOR Treaty Ratification Postponed MOSCOW - The Duma Council on Tuesday put off the debate in the lower house of the Russian parliament on the ratification of the Treaty on Strategic Offensive Reductions (SOR) from Wednesday to a later date, Deputy Chief of the International Affairs' Committee Sergei Shishkaryov told Interfax. Duma Defense Committee chairman Andrei Nikolayev said the ratification will not be discussed this week at all. He said it was also decided not to consider the issue at the Friday plenary session of the Duma. Earlier International Affairs' Committee chairman Dmitri Rogozin told Interfax that "it is felt that consideration of the matter in such an unfavorable political situation would be inappropriate." return to menu 12. Duma Postpones Ratification Of Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty MOSCOW - The State Duma Council has decided not to consider the bill on ratifying the Russian-US Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty on March 21. According to Duma Deputy Chairman Georgy Boos, this has been due to the complicated situation in the world. According to Sergey Shishkaryov, the deputy head of the State Duma International Relations Committee, five Duma factions supported the proposal to postpone the consideration of this document. "Although the ratification of the Treaty meets Russia's interests, we believe that it would be unjustified to make this step at present", the deputy stressed. As a result the discussion on the bill has been rescheduled for April 2003. This date could be delayed further, in the event of a war in Iraq, he specified. The Russian and US Presidents signed the Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty in May 2002. The US Senate ratified this document on March 6, 2003. return to menu D. Russia-Iran 1. Russia denies seeking to help Iran enrich uranium Russia on Thursday denied reports that it was planning to build a uranium enrichment factory in Iran that would significantly boost the country's nuclear program. "The atomic energy ministry does not intend to work in that sphere with Iran," a ministry spokesman told the Interfax news agency. Media reports in Iran on Wednesday said that visiting Russian Deputy Atomic Energy Minister Andrei Malyshev expressed Moscow's readiness to work with Iran on building a factory to enrich its recently-disclosed deposits of uranium. Russia has already come under fire from the United States for helping construct the Bushehr nuclear reactor in southern Iran and promising to provide fuel for it. Both Moscow and Tehran have repeatedly denied that oil-rich Iran is engaged in a covert nuclear weapons program, and have said that Bushehr will provide nuclear energy for peaceful means. The ministry spokesman confirmed that Malyshev carried a out a two-day visit to Iran earlier this week, but insisted it was a protocol visit to meet with Iranian officials on trade and economic issues. "He made no such statement" on uranium enrichment, the spokesman said. return to menu 2. Russia and Iran may build second reactor at Busher nuclear facility At a meeting in Teheran the Russian and Iranian delegations have agreed to carry out a technical and economic assessment of the construction of the second reactor of the Busher nuclear power station in Iran. The construction of the first reactor is in its final stage, the press service of the Russian Atomic Ministry reported. The discussion of this question was held within the framework of the fourth meeting of the Russian-Iranian commission for trade and economic cooperation. The Russian delegation was headed by Property Relations Minister Farid Gazizulin. Iranian Petroleum Minister Bijan Namdar-Zanganeh headed the Iranian delegation. Russian Deputy Atomic Minister Andrey Malyshev, who also took part in the work of the commission, and Iranian experts discussed questions of peaceful use of atomic energy. return to menu 3. Russian side does not plan to interrupt work at Bushehr power station The Russian Ministry of Atomic Energy and the Russian Atomstroyeksport joint stock company - the general contractor being used in the construction of a power station in Iran - do not intend to evacuate Russian experts and their families from Bushehr "unless there is a special directive from the Russian Foreign Ministry", an official source in the Russian Atomic Ministry said. In spite of the fact that the construction site of the power plant in Bushehr and the village where thousands of Russians live are located only 300 km from the Iraqi town of Basra, the top officials of the Russian Atomic Energy Ministry "do not see a need to stop work at the construction site and to send the specialists back to Russia for the period of the military operation by the USA and its allies in Iraq", the source said. However, he said that "everything will depend upon further developments in that part of the Persian Gulf". return to menu 4. Russia and Iran to Develop Civilian Nuclear Co-Operation Programme Russia and Iran are to draft a long-term program of co-operation in nuclear research and use for civilian purposes, a RIA Novosti correspondent quotes the press service of the Russian Nuclear Energy Ministry as saying on Thursday. The agreement was reached in Teheran by the joint Russian-Iranian commission for trade and economic co-operation. The commission is led by Russian Property Minister Farid Gazizulin and Iranian Petroleum Minister Bijan Namdar-Zanganeh, said the press service. The commission's work involved Russian Deputy Minister for Nuclear Energy Andrei Malyshev. He discussed with the Iranian partners further nuclear co-operation for civilian purposes. For the time being, it is limited to the construction of the first unit of the Bushehr nuclear power plant. "The sides have agreed to prepare a long-term programme of joint work. It is, particularly, the completion of the first power unit of the Bushehr facility, preparation of a feasibility report for the second unit and the provision of safety of the entire facility. We also discussed prospective joint research in the field of nuclear science and technologies as regards biology, healthcare, agriculture and industry", said the Nuclear Energy Ministry. It confirmed that Russia has not participated, nor is going to be involved in Iran's work on its own program for independent production of nuclear fuel and its components, including enriched uranium. Russia will supply nuclear fuel for the operation of the first unit of the Bushehr nuclear power station and take back all the processed fuel, stressed the Russian Nuclear Energy Ministry. return to menu 5. Russia Not Accountable To US For Nuke Cooperation With Iran TEHRAN - Deputy Russian Atomic Energy Minister Andre Marshalev said here Tuesday that his country is under no obligation to respond to US administration for its nuclear cooperation with Iran. Marshalev said on the sidelines of the Fourth Tehran-Moscow Economic Cooperation Commission meeting that all nuclear activities and cooperation between Tehran and Moscow are 'transparent' and within the framework of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). He said that Moscow is aware of Iran's uranium enrichment project under the IAEA supervision and within framework of international conventions. He added that Iran and Russia had on the sidelines of their meeting inked a protocol for full establishment of an atomic power plant in Bushehr. He expressed hope that the power plant will be operational in December 2003. Marshalev said his country had proposed Iran to provide it with the technology for using nuclear energy for agricultural, medical care, industrial and sanitary purposes and waits positive answer. He said that his country is also ready to set up a uranium enrichment plant in Iran to meet energy requirement of Bushehr nuclear power plant. The fifth Tehran-Moscow Joint Economic Cooperation Commission will meet in Moscow next year. return to menu 6. Iran, Russia ink MoU to broaden ties The Islamic Republic and Russia here on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to expand their economic, commercial, scientific and technical cooperation. The MoU was signed by Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh and visiting Russian Minister of State Property Farit Rafikonich Gazizullin in behalf of their governments. The MoU provides for joint efforts by the two countries in various areas including implementation of pending oil and gas projects, design and establishment of state-of-the-art petrochemical equipment, training of experts, development of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and conducting of bio-scientific researches in the fields of health, agriculture and industry. The two countries also agreed to cooperate in the establishment of water purification plants, development of the North-South corridor, banking, post and telecommunications, aerospace, aircraft manufacture and completion of the Zohreh satellite, as well as aircraft and road, air, rail and marine transportation. The Russian minister for state property arrived here on Sunday to attend the fourth session of the Iran-Russia Joint Economic Commission. Gazizullin is accompanied by a 50-member, high-ranking delegation which includes deputies of the Russian Ministries of Economic Development and Trade, Nuclear Energy, Industry, Science and Technology and Transport. The two-day session, co-chaired by Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh, kicked off Monday. Gazizullin, who is the Russian co-chairman of the Iran-Russia Joint Economic Commission, has held separate talks with Iranian First Vice-President Mohammad-Reza Aref and Iranian Commerce Minister Mohammad Shariatmadari since his arrival here. return to menu E. Russia-India 1. Uralmashzavod manufacturing capabilities for NPP Kudankulam equipment were inspected Uralmashzavod hosted an inspection aimed at auditing the manufacturing capabilities used for fabrication of equipment for the Indian Kudankulam NPP. RIA Novosti reported referring to Uralmashzavod press service S. Gurunatan, the chief engineer for quality of the Atomic Power Corporation of India, visited this facility March 19 to inspect on implementation of the contract for manufacturing polar cranes. The visit resulted in the signed protocol stating that the contract terms and conditions were met and the facility would receive the first advance payment amounting to 20% of the equipment cost. In total it is planned to carry out three inspections with the next scheduled for this April. The manufacturing of the polar crane will start in mid-April. Under the contract signed in August 2002, Uralmashzavod is to manufacture two polar cranes for units 1 and 2 of Kudankulam NPP in India. The first crane must be produced already in August 2003 and the second one in February 2004. Total weight of equipment is more than 1.1 thousand tons. March 6 Uralmashzavod agreed on and approved with the leading designer Atomstroyexport the task order for the polar crane design for Kudankulam NPP thus completing the first phase of the work. Now the SPA VNIITMASH experts who are also involved in these activities have started the approval process of the detail design with VO Bezopasnost. After all agreements and approvals for the task order and detail design are in place the interregional office of Gosatomnadzor of Russia will issue a permit to use the documentation. Uralmashzavod is incorporated in the largest machine building entity Objedinennye Mashinostroitelnye Zavody (United Machine Building Plants) � OMZ. The corporation supplies 25% of world market with the NPP primary equipment. For Kudankulam NPP OMZ will supply the primary equipment for units 1 and 2, which is to be fabricated by Izhorskie Zavody and hoisting machinery produced by Uralmashzavod. return to menu F. Nuclear Safety 1. Minatom�s Official Deflates Statements On Alcohol And Drugs Addiction At NPPs �Since the whole society suffers from this illness some signs appear at our enterprises but they in no way associate with the individuals involved in operation of nuclear facilities�, a high-ranking Minatom�s official told Nuclear.Ru commenting a book Nuclear Power in Russia: unknown about the known presented by �Greenpeace� of Russia and Institute of Sociology of the Russian Academy of Sciences March 17 in Moscow. The sociologists and �greens� accuse Minatom of negligence towards alcohol and drugs addiction at the Russian NPPs. �In fact, alcohol and drugs are the problems of the society, but in the �closed� cities and NPP satellite-cities, where crime is practically absent, the situation is different�, Minatom�s official said. According to him, there are few individuals suffering from drugs or alcohol, or hobos. All of them are filed with enforcement or medical agencies. They are former employees of the said enterprises�, the official noted. As regards the current employees, they are thoroughly controlled; in particular, there is a special entrance alcohol check. �For example, a driver getting work permit undergoes a special medical check but a NPP operator is subjected to a comprehensive and thorough medical examination before and after the shift. Thus, alcohol and drugs are simply ruled out at a nuclear hazardous facility�, Minatom�s official said adding that there might have been recorded cases associated with auxiliary personnel and off-site but this in no way can be attributed to either operators or other specialists involved in nuclear facility operations. Every day at 8 am the Situation and Crisis Center (SCC) of Minatom of Russia reports to the Minister on the situation at all nuclear hazardous facilities including occurrences. All events are recorded and investigated if required. Moreover, as stated by Minatom, the cases irrelevant to nuclear safety, for example, falling of a worker from scaffolding or traffic incident are subject to investigation. As Nuclear.Ru was informed by a SCC representative, �emergencies and occurrences associated with drugs or alcohol have not ever been recorded�. �As of the drugs, in the city of Desnogorsk (satellite to Smolensk NPP � not confuse with the plant site - SCC representative stressed) two Chechens were detained involved in drugs pushery�. However, there have been no facts recorded on drugs addiction by employees of Minatom�s enterprises. return to menu G. Nuclear Industry 1. Russia to pay $32.5 mln on Soviet-era debt Russia will pay U.S. $32.5 million in cash on its Soviet-era debt to Bulgaria on Friday, Bulgarian Finance Minister Milen Velchev told ITAR-TASS Thursday. Earlier, Russia had planned to supply nuclear fuel for Bulgaria�s nuclear power plant in Kozloduy worth $35 million, however, the sides decided to give up that scheme. During Russian President Vladimir Putin visit to Bulgaria in early March, the countries agreed to substitute the payment for the nuclear fuel supplies. Russia�s Soviet-era debt to Bulgaria amounts to $88.5 million. The majority of the remaining part will be covered by Russia�s military supplies. return to menu 2. Armenia to Cede Six Power Plants to Russia Armenia will transfer to Russia ownership of six hydroelectric-power plants on the Hrazdan River in payment of $25 million of the country's total $40 million debt for supplies of nuclear fuel for the Medzamor nuclear-power plant, RFE/RL's Yerevan bureau reported on 20 March, citing an Armenian government statement. The six power stations together generate approximately 15 percent of Armenia's energy. LF return to menu H. Announcements 1. On the Course of the Negotiations Concerning the Draft Agreement on the Multilateral Nuclear Environmental Program for Russia Negotiations on the Draft International Agreement on the Multilateral Nuclear Environmental Program for Russia (MNEPR) are now in their concluding stage. The aim of cooperation within its framework is the solution of the problems in the safe handling of spent fuel from decommissioned Russian nuclear submarines and radioactive waste. Russia attaches great importance to the upcoming implementation of the MNEPR agreement. It will help strengthen radiation safety in Europe and improve the ecological situation in Russia's northern regions. Its early conclusion will contribute to the practical implementation of the G8 leaders' accord reached in Kananaskis, Canada, last summer on the establishment of a Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction. The Russian side took maximum account of the partners' wishes (those participating in the negotiations are Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, the FRG, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Britain, the US, the European Union, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development). In the course of the many consultations practically the entire text of the document was agreed upon, with the exception of one of the paragraphs of the article on taxation that had become a "stumbling block." Its implementation, in the opinion of some of our experts, might have created serious technical difficulties for Russian taxation bodies. Nevertheless, on March 12, 2003, at a meeting in the office of Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Mikhail Kasyanov convened for the solution of this problem, a decision was adopted in principle to exempt foreign persons and entities participating in the implementation of MNEPR projects from the value added tax and from other levies on equipment and goods purchased in the territory of the Russian Federation, as well as works and services performed by them. In accordance with this decision the procedure of practical implementation of the tax provision will be determined within the shortest possible time, presenting concrete proposals on its final wording in the agreement to all the participants in the negotiations. In addition, the Russian side is ready to insert in the draft document a provision for its temporary application as from the date of signature. Thus, there are no unresolved questions left with regard to the draft MNEPR agreement. In this connection a concluding meeting of the participants is scheduled to be held in Moscow on March 21, 2003, in the course of which it is expected to formalize the reached accords conclusively. The not easy decision for Russia with respect to taxation is one more important confirmation of our absolute commitment to the spirit of Kananaskis. We express the hope that the partners will appreciate it and show a reciprocal political will in the course of the final round of negotiations on MNEPR. return to menu 2. Daily Press Briefing (excerpted) [...] Question: The lower house of the Russian State Duma has deferred action on the weapons reduction agreement with the U.S., which was unanimously or at least -- 95, I think, to zero by the Senate. Just yesterday Secretary Powell cited the mutual interest the two countries have in reducing weapons as an example of how differences with Russia over Iraq will be eventually overcome by what they had in common. Has anybody made that point to Moscow? And what is your -- what is the State Department's view of what's going on in the Duma? Mr. Boucher: I think the point has been made to Moscow that we remain interested in ratification of the treaty. In fact, the U.S. Senate has given its consent to ratification of the Moscow Treaty. The treaty was signed May 24th and the Senate has now given its advice and consent. We continue to believe the treaty is in the interests of both the United States and Russia. We look forward to the Russian Duma and the Federation Council's consent to ratification at the earliest opportunity. And we continue to hope that President Bush and Putin will be able to exchange instruments of ratification shortly after this ratification so the that the treaty can enter into force. So we continue to look for this treaty. We continue to hope the Duma and the Federation Council will ratify it and we continue to discuss with the Russian Government how to bring that about. But really, I would have to say all along in this, Secretary Powell and Foreign Minister Ivanov have repeated compared notes on how things were going, but each one was in charge of his own parliamentary procedures and so we will see what the Russian Government does to get ratification of this treaty that we signed with them. [...] return to menu 3. Russian Deputy Minister Of Foreign Affairs Georgy Mamedov's ITAR-TASS Interview On The DPRK Nuclear Program (Excerpted) [...] Question: Does Russia have any information on the existence of nuclear weapons in the DPRK? Answer: According to Russia's information, the DPRK currently has no nuclear weapons, although the capabilities for their development and manufacture are there. Evidence that the DPRK already has them does not exist. There only exist rumors, indirect information, hints. The probability of Pyongyang gaining nuclear weapons will increase unless a political solution is reached. We are very much not keen on such a scenario. Question: Do you think the UN Security Council will take a decision to impose sanctions against the DPRK over its nuclear program? Answer: Russia excludes the adoption by UN Security Council of a decision which would call for the imposition of sanctions against the DPRK over its nuclear program. This will only raise tensions even further and will have no positive consequences. I believe that not only the DPRK is to blame for the current tense situation, so the settlement of the problem must bear an all-embracing character. Political efforts at settlement must include a bilateral dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang, and also be supplemented by a dialogue on a multilateral basis. Any possibility suits us, and Russia gives no preference to any particular format. A comprehensive solution should include security guarantees for all the parties. It should also be designed for the long term and envisage having the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty operative on the Korean peninsula again. Question: What is the position of Russia with regard to threats to deal preventive strikes at the DPRK? Answer: Russia continues to pursue the "quiet diplomacy" with a view to resolving the situation around the nuclear program of Pyongyang. Appropriate contacts are being maintained with the US, the DPRK itself and other countries in order to get all the parties at the negotiating table. Moscow is categorically against both the threats of preventive strikes at the DPRK and against military nuclear programs on the Korean peninsula. The position of Pyongyang, which believes that, faced with a military threat from the US, "the sole means to preserve independence is to develop defense potential," does not escape attention. Such sentiments in the DPRK can grow stronger if the United States begins a war against Iraq. A resolution of the situation around the Korean peninsula should not be put off. return to menu I. Links of Interest 1. Nonproliferation Programs of the Department of State return to menu 2. Prospects for India-Russia Security Relations return to menu DISCLAIMER: Nuclear News is presented for informational purposes only. Views presented in any given article are those of the individual author or source and not of RANSAC. RANSAC takes no responsibility for the technical accuracy of information contained in any article presented in Nuclear News. RANSAC's Nuclear News is compiled two to three times weekly. If you would like to be removed from our mailing list or if you have questions/comments/concerns, please reply to news@216.119.87.134 |
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