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Russian Nuclear Agency Chief Backs Bilateral Fuel Assurances for Nonproliferation By Joe Fiorill WASHINGTON — Russian nuclear chief Alexander Rumyantsev avoided comment yesterday on his nation’s stance on a proposed international system to assure nuclear fuel to countries that forgo proliferation-sensitive activities, but declared Russia ready to do bilateral “business” in a similar vein (see GSN, Nov. 8). Appearing at the Carnegie International Nonproliferation Conference, the Atomic Energy Agency director noted that Moscow already has a legal framework in place to provide Iran with nuclear fuel for the Russian-backed reactor under construction at Bushehr, and to take back spent fuel from the facility. “We are prepared to do business with other countries on the same terms,” Rumyantsev said in response to a question from International Atomic Energy Agency verification official Tariq Rauf. The proposed international deal, which has been a frequent topic at the Carnegie conference, would take place under IAEA auspices. Countries that do not enrich uranium or reprocess nuclear material would agree not to pursue such technologies, in exchange for guarantees of fuel from producing nations. The United States this year pledged 17 metric tons of highly enriched uranium to be blended down for use in such a system, and IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei said Monday at the conference that Russia had indicated it also planned to make material available. Rumyantsev noted that a supply-assurance system was discussed in July at international fuel-cycle talks in Moscow, but he added quickly that “one way” to achieve the same aim was through bilateral arrangements. Asked about Tehran’s alleged nuclear weapon-development activities, Rumyantsev said the nuclear-power agreements would not aid in any illicit Iranian pursuits. “Iran has both signed the NPT [Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty] and even the Additional Protocol with the IAEA” allowing for more intrusive inspections, Rumyantsev said. “Under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, each signatory is entitled to build a civilian nuclear-power industry.” “Make no mistake: the Russian Federation is committed to the position whereby Iran must never, ever be able to develop and build its own national nuclear-weapons arsenal,” he continued, “and as we are helping Iran build its first nuclear power plant, we are continuously making sure that none of what is involved in this can be used by Iran to develop and upgrade its nuclear technology in a direction which could result in Iran’s building weapons-grade materials and eventually nuclear weapons.” U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration head Linton Brooks, appearing alongside Rumyantsev, did not comment directly on Bushehr but said nuclear energy should be expanded around the world, provided that enrichment and reprocessing are not. “It’s in the interest of everybody in this room to expand global prosperity,” Brooks said. “Global prosperity depends on significant growth in energy.” Compared with fossil fuels, he said, “It seems to me nuclear power offers a great many advantages.” Rumyantsev was to meet today with U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman.
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