Russia to End Megatons to Megawatts Program in 2013

Russia does not plan to extend the “Megatons to Megawatts” program with the United States past its expiration point in 2013, Russian Federal Atomic Energy Agency chief Sergei Kiriyenko said Saturday (see GSN, June 29).

The agreement signed in 1993 calls for Russia to convert 500 tons of highly enriched uranium — enough for 20,000 nuclear bombs — into a proliferation-resistant low-enriched form. It then sells the material to the United States for use as nuclear reactor fuel.

Russia has converted more than 250 tons of highly enriched uranium. Kiriyenko said the country would fulfill the current agreement (Interfax, July 15).

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