Georgia: Operation Auburn Endeavor

 

On 23 April 1998, after more than two years of negotiations, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Georgia successfully carried out Operation Auburn Endeavor, in which HEU- and LEU-based fresh and spent fuel was transferred from the shutdown IRT-M research reactor in Mtskheta, on the outskirts of Tbilisi, Georgia, to the Dounreay Nuclear Complex in Scotland.  US government documents indicate that the material consisted of approximately 4.3kg of fresh fuel (largely HEU, with some LEU, as well) and approximately 800g of HEU/LEU-based spent fuel.[1] Documents from the UK House of Commons indicate that an additional 5.8kg of LEU-based fresh fuel and 3.7kg of LEU-based spent fuel were also removed.[2] 

The project went by different names:  the US Department of Energy called it "Project Partnership," US military personnel called it "Auburn Endeavor," Oak Ridge National Laboratory personnel called it "Project Olympus," and the Georgians called it "Program Export."[3]

In January 1996, prompted by concerns over inadequate material protection, control, and accounting standards, the United States began negotiating with Georgia and Russia to transfer 4.3kg of fresh fuel and 800g of spent fuel at Mtskheta to Russian territory.  Russia had delayed plans to transfer the materials to its territory with claims of improper shipment containers, insufficient funds, and environmental hazards.[4]  Negotiations became more difficult after an 11 January 1997 statement by Russian Ministry of Atomic Energy spokesman Georgiy Kaurov in which Russia indicated its willingness to accept the HEU fuel if Georgia were to sign an agreement conditioning the transfer on Georgia's ultimate responsibility for the waste left after reprocessing.[5]  According to Institute of Nuclear Physics Director Giorgi Kharadze, Georgia did not have a place to safely store nuclear waste.[4]

 

Similar to Project Sapphire, in which the United States purchased approximately 600kg of weapons-grade uranium from Kazakhstan and shipped it to Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee, Auburn Endeavor allowed the West to help eliminate a potential nuclear proliferation risk. However, US State Department concerns over upsetting Moscow and Clinton Administration worries over protests and legal challenges from US environmental groups prevented the United States from accepting the material.  Following the February 1997 assassination attempt on Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze, US concerns over the material intensified.  The United States asked France to accept the material, but the French refused.  Finally, British Prime Minister Tony Blair agreed to take the uranium and spent fuel.  Though the operation violated British regulations against receiving nuclear material, London indicated that the safety and security of the material was important enough to make an exception.[6]  Environmentalists and Scottish nationalists criticized the operation as "ill-conceived and dangerous,"[7,8] all the more so when it was learned that an additional 9.5kg of LEU material accompanied the agreed-upon 4.7kg.[2]  The British foreign ministry noted in a public statement that most of the material would be used to produce medical isotopes for the treatment of cancer.[7]

The operation was directed by the US National Security Council. The US Departments of State, Defense (DOD), and Energy (DOE) executed the mission. The Department of State negotiated agreements with and managed policy issues in Georgia and the United Kingdom.  DOD, through US European Command military personnel, was responsible for transportation, logistics, and coordination of security with Georgia.  DOE was responsible for repackaging the fuel and interacting with the Georgian Institute of Physics and UK nuclear authorities.  The fresh fuel was repackaged in US-supplied containers and transported by US Air Force C-5B cargo aircraft from Tbilisi, Georgia, to Kinloss Royal Air Force Base outside Inverness, Scotland.  In Scotland the fresh and spent fuel was transported to the Dounreay Nuclear Complex for interim storage and final disposition.[1]  The United States reportedly paid Georgia $125,000 for the material.[9]
Sources:
[1] Alexander W. Riedy, et al., "Multilateral Nonproliferation Cooperation:  U.S.-Led Effort to Remove HEU/LEU Fresh and Spent Fuel from Tbilisi, Georgia to Dounreay, Scotland (Operation Auburn Endeavor/Project Olympus)," 40th Annual Meeting:  Proceedings of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management (Documation, 1999).
[2] Select Committee on Trade and Industry Minutes of Evidence, "Examination of Witness, Mr. D. Henderson (Questions 243 - 259)," 1 July 1998, United Kingdom Parliament Web Site, http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/.../80701p03.htm. 

[3] Robert N. Ceo, Kenneth A. Thompson, Wesley J. Bicha, "Gamma Ray Measurements of Reactor Fuel Elements in the Republic of Georgia," 40th Annual Meeting:  Proceedings of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management (Documation, 1999).
[4] Michael R. Gordon, "Russia Thwarting U.S. Bid To Secure A Nuclear Cache," New York Times, 5 January 1997, pp. A1, A4.
[5] Scott Parrish and Emil Danileyan, "Russia Ready To Accept Uranium From Georgia," OMRI Daily Digest, 13 January 1997.
[6] Michael Gordon, "U.S., Britain Relocate Nuclear Material From Volatile Georgia," New York Times, online edition http://www.nytimes.com, 21 April 1998.
[7] "Protests Fly As U.K. Takes Georgia Nuclear Material," Reuters, 21 April 1998.
[8] Ben Partridge, "Georgia: Uranium Flies to Britain For Reprocessing Amid Criticsm of Secret Deal," RFE/RL Russian Dailies, 23 April 1998, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Web Site, http://www.rferl.org.{Updated 5/12/98 TR}
[9] Ben Partridge, "Georgia:  Nuclear Waste Arrives at Scottish Plant," RFE/RL Russian Dailies, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Web Site, http://www.rferl.org, 24 April 1998.{Updated 1/12/2001 NA}