Estonia played an important role in both the civilian and military nuclear
programs of the former Soviet Union. Its major facilities were the Sillamae
Metal and Chemical Production Plant (Silmet), which milled uranium ore until
1990, when it began to focus exclusively on rare-earth metal production, and the
Paldiski
training reactor facility, which had two research reactors (now dismantled)
that were used to train Soviet naval personnel to work on nuclear submarines.
Nonproliferation issues concerning Estonia stem primarily from the field of export
controls. While it has taken measures to improve export controls since the
collapse of the Soviet Union, Estonia may still be attractive as a transshipment
point for controlled commodities, largely because of its rare-earth metals
production and export industries.
Estonia receives foreign
assistance from a number of countries, particularly from Scandinavia, to
improve conditions at radioactive
waste sites associated with the nuclear complex.
Please see the links below for additional information.
