U.S., Russia agree on plutonium disposal plan

The U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman and Russian Federal Atomic Energy Agency Director Sergey Kiriyenko signed a joint statement outlining a plan to dispose 34 metric tons of surplus plutonium from Russia’s weapons program. The plan calls for the conversion of Russianweapon-grade plutonium into mixed oxide fuel (MOX) and irradiate the MOX fuel in the BN-600 and BN-800 fast reactors at the nuclear power plant in Beloyarsk.

f the BN-600 will begin a rate of approximately 1.5 metric tons disposed of per year. The BN-800 disposal will begin shortly thereafter.

In agreement with the 2000 Plutonium Management and Disposition Agreement, the United States will contribute $400 million to the plan. The United States and Russian officials will meet in the coming months to amend the existing plutonium disposition agreement.

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