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U.S., Russian Experts Complete Nuclear Site Security Upgrades

10 May 2005

Joint effort secures nuclear material at Moscow research center

The United States and Russia announced the completion of comprehensive security upgrades at the Kurchatov Institute, a leading nuclear research center in Moscow, May 5.

The upgrades were completed by U.S. Energy Department’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) in cooperation with U.S. and Russian nuclear security experts, according to an NNSA announcement.

Following is the announcement:

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U.S. Department of Energy
National Nuclear Security Administration
May 5, 2005

NNSA COMPLETES SECURITY UPGRADES AT NUCLEAR SITE IN MOSCOW

WASHINGTON, DC -- The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) achieved a major milestone last week with the completion of comprehensive security upgrades at the Kurchatov Institute, a leading nuclear research center in Moscow, Russia.

NNSA Principal Deputy Administrator Jerald Paul joined Nikolai Ponomarev-Stepnoi, the vice president of the Kurchatov Institute who hosted the ceremony.  Sergey Antipov, deputy director of the Federal Atomic Energy Agency (Rosatom) of the Russian Federation, attended along with other Russian and U.S. officials.

The upgrades were completed by NNSA's Office of International Material Protection and Cooperation in cooperation with the Russian Federation. The office works with foreign countries to secure nuclear materials by upgrading security at nuclear sites, consolidating these materials to sites where installation of enhanced security systems have already been completed, and improving nuclear smuggling detection capabilities at border crossings.

NNSA personnel, supported by nuclear security experts from several U.S. national laboratories, worked with Russian counterparts to secure nuclear material used at the research center. 

Established by Congress in 2000, NNSA is a semi-autonomous agency within the U.S. Department of Energy responsible for maintaining and enhancing the safety, security, reliability and performance of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile without nuclear testing; working to reduce global danger from weapons of mass destruction; providing the U.S. Navy with safe and effective nuclear propulsion; and responding to nuclear and radiological emergencies in the U.S. and abroad.

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(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)