Russia to Secure German Research Reactor Fuel

Germany has approved plans to transfer to Russia highly enriched uranium from a research reactor at Rossendorf near Dresden, ITAR-Tass reported yesterday (see GSN, Sept. 26).

Two hundred kilograms of highly enriched uranium and 100 kilograms of low-enriched uranium would be relocated under the plan to reduce the risk of terrorist theft of weapon-usable materials, according to ITAR-Tass.

“Such operations have been carried out many times over the past two years under the Russian-U.S. agreement on the removal of highly enriched uranium from research reactors of U.S. and Soviet design built in third countries,” said a statement from the Russian atomic energy agency.

The material would be transported in special containers to Dresden, where it would then be flown to Russia, ITAR-Tass reported.  The uranium would then be processed and stored at Russia’s Podolsk facility.

“The date of the forthcoming operation is kept secret for security reasons,” the statement said (ITAR-Tass, Dec. 4).

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