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U.S., Russia Continue to Protect Nuclear Material in Russian Navy

U.S. Department of Energy
Washington, D.C.
October 2, 2000
Press Release
U.S. ENERGY DEPARTMENT AND RUSSIAN NAVY COMPLETE SECURITY UPGRADES OF
SUBMARINE SERVICE SHIP
Commissioning Ceremony Near Murmansk Marks Continuing Cooperation
The Department of Energy has announced the completion of security
system enhancements on Russian Navy Ship PM-12, the second of three
Russian Federation Navy submarine service ships scheduled for security
upgrades through the department's Office of Defense Nuclear
Nonproliferation. The Russian Navy is a major user of highly enriched
uranium fuel which, if lost or stolen, could be processed for use in
nuclear weapons. Representatives of the two governments held a
commissioning ceremony for the new security system last Friday.
"The physical protection of nuclear materials aboard these Russian
Navy ships enhances our national security and global security," said
Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson. "The extraordinary cooperation
between the Department of Energy and the Russian Navy benefits the
United States, the Russian Federation and the international
community."
During an August trip to the Russian Far East, Secretary Richardson
signed an agreement with the Russian Federation Navy that outlines
expanded future cooperation in the area of nuclear material security.
On the visit, Secretary Richardson was granted unprecedented access to
Russian submarine support facilities.
The Russian Navy Ship project is a part of the cooperative efforts
between the U.S. Department of Energy and the Russian Federation to
prevent proliferation of nuclear materials that can be used in weapons
of mass destruction. Russian Navy Ship PM-12 is based at Nerpa
Shipyard, which is north of Murmansk, on the Kola Peninsula, along the
northern Russian coastline. In addition to ship-based systems,
upgrades were installed at specific shore locations where the ship may
be docked. Work on upgrades began on Russian Navy Ship PM-12 in August
1998 and was completed on schedule.
More information is available online at: http://www.nn.doe.gov/mpca
Media Contact: Tamara Hamilton, 202/586-5806