30 January 2002
Text: Abraham Announces Nuclear Nonproliferation Effort with Kazakhstan
(Joint effort to secure nuclear materials, nuclear weapons knowledge)
(690)
At a ceremony in Washington January 30, Secretary of Energy Spencer
Abraham launched a new nuclear nonproliferation effort with the
Republic of Kazakhstan and U.S. private industry.
Two U.S. companies and Brookhaven National Laboratory will help a
former nuclear weapons plant in Kazahkstan, the Ulba Metallurgical
Plant, develop the capability to separate low-enriched uranium from
uranium concentrates, with the processed uranium then made available
as a power source to civilian power reactors around the world,
according to a Department of Energy press release.
The project is expected to immediately create 50 new civilian jobs for
former nuclear weapons scientists in Kazakhstan and will create
hundreds of additional jobs for former nuclear weapons workers in the
coming years, according to the release:
(begin text)
U.S. Department of Energy
Washington, D.C.
www.energy.gov
January 30, 2002
ENERGY SECRETARY ABRAHAM ANNOUNCES NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION EFFORT
WITH KAZAKHSTAN FOR FORMER SOVIET NUCLEAR WEAPONS FACILITY
WASHINGTON, DC -- Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham today launched
an ambitious nuclear nonproliferation effort with the Republic of
Kazakhstan and private U.S. industry. In support of President Bush's
National Energy Policy, the initiative will improve the nation's
energy security, bolster the global economy, and enhance international
cooperation.
"The project at the Ulba Metallurgical Plant in Kazakhstan is a
concrete example of how our nuclear nonproliferation programs can
facilitate important industry initiatives to improve both U.S. energy
security and national security," Secretary Abraham said.
"Additionally, today's initiative will enhance our relationship with
an important international partner and improve global energy supplies
as well."
Under the project, a former nuclear weapons plant in Kazahkstan will
develop its capability to separate low-enriched uranium from uranium
concentrates with assistance from two private U.S. companies and
Brookhaven National Laboratory. The uranium will then be made
available as a power source to civilian power reactors throughout the
world. The Department of Energy's (DOE) National Nuclear Security
Administration (NNSA) brought the parties together and will continue
to assist with the project. The endeavor will immediately create 50
new civilian jobs for former nuclear weapons scientists in Kazakhstan
and will create hundreds of additional jobs for former nuclear weapons
workers in the coming years.
This new project signals an increase in security cooperation between
the United States and the Republic of Kazakhstan and their joint
efforts to further secure nuclear materials and nuclear weapons
knowledge. Kazakhstan, which inherited the world's fourth-largest
nuclear weapons arsenal after the dissolution of the former Soviet
Union, decided to terminate its nuclear program and joined the
Non-Proliferation Treaty as a non-nuclear state. Kazakhstan has
dismantled and removed all nuclear weapons from its territory and has
destroyed the associated infrastructure.
Global Nuclear Fuel-Americas (GNF) of Wilmington, N.C., and RWE Nukem
of Danbury, Conn., will assist the Ulba plant in Oskemen, Kazakhstan,
to use its advanced solvent extraction technology to recover
low-enriched uranium from uranium concentrates. DOE/NNSA has committed
$1.2 million in Initiatives for Proliferation Prevention (IPP) funds
over three years for joint work between Ulba and Brookhaven National
Laboratory to design and install this technology for commercial use.
The recovered uranium will be available to GNF and other commercial
nuclear fuel manufacturers for use in Boiling Water Reactors. The U.S.
industry partners have already matched the NNSA's contribution.
Secretary Abraham was joined by U.S. Rep. Curt Weldon (R-PA), Kazakh
Ambassador Kanat B. Saudabayev, GNF President & CEO Jack Fuller, RWE
Nukem President & CEO Jim Cornell, Brookhaven National Laboratory
Deputy Director Thomas Sheridan, KazAtomProm President Askar
Kasabekov, and Ulba Director Vitaly Khadeyev for the announcement.
The NNSA's IPP program helps engage former Soviet experts in the field
of weapons of mass destruction in the development of commercial
technologies for peaceful purposes. Both GNF and RWE Nukem are members
of the U.S. Industry Coalition (USIC), a non-profit association of
companies and universities that are active partners in the NNSA-IPP
program. USIC works to facilitate technology commercialization for its
members.
Media Contact: Lisa Cutler, 202/586-7371, Drew Malcomb, 202/586-5806
Release No. PR-02-012
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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