In June 1992 the Canadian Government
announced the
Canadian Nuclear Safety Initiative (CNSI),
which focused on improving nuclear safety and security in the former Soviet
Union. Assistance to nuclear institutes,
nuclear power plants, and authorities was provided in order to enhance the safety of old Soviet reactors,
strengthen nuclear regulatory regimes, and reduce risks of nuclear
proliferation. A total of $23 million was committed to this program, which was
completed in May 2001. The CNSI has funded both bilateral and multilateral projects.
In multilateral efforts, Canada contributed to the Nuclear Safety
Account managed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
The bilateral component of the program
was
administered
mainly through Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. and the Atomic Energy Control Board
of Canada (now the Canadian Nuclear Safety
Commission).[1]
Canada has also been involved in finding solutions to
the problem
of excess weapons-grade plutonium. Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., in partnership with the Russian
Ministry of Atomic Energy, has undertaken studies
to assess the feasibility of manufacturing MOX fuel from Russian plutonium for
use in Ontario Hydro's
CANDU nuclear reactors.[2,3]
Canada has committed to contribute CD$1
billion ($650 million) over 10 years to the G8 Global
Partnership Against the Spread of WMD. On 30 May 2003, the Canadian
government announced the following new commitments: CD$18
million for the ISTC, CD$4 million for
IAEA projects to strengthen nuclear and
radiological security in the former Soviet Union, CD$32 million for the
EBRD spent nuclear naval fuel project, CD$65
million for plutonium disposition,
and CD$30 million for the Shchuchye chemical weapon destruction site.[4]
In the sphere of nuclear-powered
submarines, Canada plans to contribute CAN$332 million (about US$264 million as
of February 2005. Of this sum, CAN$300 million (about US$240 million) will be spent on submarine dismantlement and other bilateral
projects. The remaining CAN$32 million (about US$24 million) has been
contributed to the Northern Dimension Environmental Partnership (NDEP)
of the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), to ensure the
safe and secure management of spent nuclear submarine fuel in Northern Russia.[5]
In October 2004, Zvezdochka announced that the shipyard is in the process of dismantling a
retired Kefal I/ Yersy class (NATO name Victor-I) nuclear powered submarine with
Canadian assistance. The Canadian government is allocating $18 million in its first installment for
the dismantlement of three nuclear-powered Russian submarines.[5,6] Three
more installments are planned for dismantling nine more nuclear
powered submarines.[5] The implementation of Canada's dismantlement projects in
Russia are tracked on Canada's official "Nuclear Submarine Dismantlement
Progress" website, at
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/foreign_policy/global_partnership/ nuclearsubs_progress-en.asp.
11/19/2003: MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH UNITED
KINGDOM ALLOWS SHCHUCHYE FUNDING TO MOVE FORWARD
On 19 November 2003, Canada and the United Kingdom signed a
Memorandum of Understanding, allowing Canada to fund construction of an 18km
railway connecting the chemical weapons storage depot near Planovyy to the
destruction facility at Shchuchye through the United Kingdom's bilateral
agreement with Russia. Canada and Russia do not yet have a bilateral
governmental agreement, though they are negotiating such an agreement. Canada
has committed up to up to CD$33 million (about $24 million) for
construction of the railway. ["Chemical Weapons Destruction," Canadian Department of
Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) Global Partnership Program
Website,
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/foreign_policy/global_partnership/destruction-en.asp.]{Entered
12/5/2003 CC}
5/30/2003: CANADA ANNOUNCES NEW PROJECTS
On 30 May 2003 Canada announced its intention to spend the following sums on
assistance in the former Soviet Union: CD$18 million (about $13.2 million
as of 30 May 2003) on ISTC projects,
CD$4 million (about $2.9 million) on
IAEA projects to strengthen nuclear and radiological security in
the former Soviet Union, CD$32 million (about $23.4 million) for the
EBRD spent nuclear naval fuel
project, CD$65 million (about $47.5 million) on
plutonium disposition, and up to CD$33 million
(about $24 million) for
construction of an 18km railway connecting the chemical weapons storage depot
near Planovyy to the destruction facility at Shchuchye. ["Prime Minister
Announces G8 Global Partnership Projects," 30 May 2003, Prime Minister of Canada
Website, http://www.pm.gc.ca.] {Entered 12/5/2003 CC}
6/4/2003: CANADA TO ALLOCATE €20
MILLION TO NORTHERN DIMENSION
In a 4 June 2003 press release,
the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) indicated that
Canada has promised to contribute €20 million (nearly $21.5 million as of 4 June 2003) to
the Northern Dimension Environment
Partnership (NDEP),
an EBRD-managed
initiative aimed at coordinating efforts to resolve environmental problems in
Northwest Russia. Canada is the first non-European donor to contribute to the NDEP
fund, which stands at €120 million as of June 2003. Two-thirds of the funds
pledged to date will be used for projects related to spent nuclear fuel and
waste in Russia's Barents Sea; the remainder will be spent on non-nuclear
projects, such as sewage treatment for St. Petersburg. Canada's pledge was
announced by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien as part of Canada's contribution to
the G8 Global Partnership Against the Spread of WMD.
["Canada pledges €20 million to Barents
Sea cleanup," 4 June 2003, EBRD Web Site,
http://www.ebrd.com/new/index.htm.] {Entered 7/2/2003 KB}
5/30/2003: CANADA PLEDGES $650 MILLION FOR GLOBAL
PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS On 30 May 2003, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien
officially announced that Canadian assistance projects in the former Soviet
Union would include: CD$18 million (over $13.1
million as of 30 May 2003)for
ISTC projects, CD$4 million (over $2.9
million) for
IAEA projects to strengthen nuclear and
radiological security in the former Soviet Union, CD$32 million (nearly $23.4
million) for the EBRD
spent nuclear naval fuel project, CD$65 million (about $47.5 million) for
plutonium disposition, and
CD$30 million (over $21.9 million) for the Shchuchye chemical weapons destruction site.[1]These pledges are all part of the total of CD$1 billion ($650 million) that
Canada has pledged to contribute via the Global
Partnership.[2] Sources: [1] "Prime Minister Announces G8 Global Partnership Projects," 30 May 2003,
Prime Minister of Canada Website, http://www.pm.gc.ca.
[2] "Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass
Destruction: G8 Senior Officials Group Annual Report," Evian Summit Website,
http://www.g8.fr/evian/english/home.html.
5/23/2003: CANADIAN FOREIGN
MINISTER PRAISES MNEPR In a 23 May 2003
interview with NuclearFuel, Canadian Foreign Minister Bill Richards said
that the signing of the MNEPR agreement is a "significant breakthrough."
According to Richards, technical and legal issues related to liability and
import duties had held up implementation of Canadian assistance programs to
Russia. "We didn't spend any monies last fiscal year, but we will be able to
spend in this fiscal year," continued Richards. Canada hopes to sign a bilateral
nuclear framework agreement with Russia modeled on the MNEPR agreement signed 21
May 2003. According to a senior Canadian official, if the United States can
negotiate a better liability agreement with Russia for G8 projects, and for the MOX program in particular, based on provisions embodied in the CTR program, it
would be welcomed, but Canada does not consider it essential.
[Ann MacLachlan, "Canada Proceeding with Russian Accord on Liability Basis of
MNEPR," NuclearFuel, Vol. 28, No. 11, p. 19, 26 May 2003; in
Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe,
http://www.lexis-nexis.com.]
{Entered 7/2/2003 KB}
6/27/2002: CANADA HOSTS G8, COMMITS TO GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP AGAINST THE
SPREAD OF WMD On 27 June 2002, at its summit in Kananaskis, Canada, the G8 issued a
statement outlining a new initiative, entitled the Global Partnership Against
the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction (for more information on
this initiative, see the G8 information in the
International Assistance file). The Canadian
government indicated its
willingness to commit $1 billion Canadian (about US$600-650 million) over 10
years for the Global
Partnership program.[1] Canada will reportedly also offer technical support for
nonproliferation activities.[2] No public debate has yet
taken place in Canada on the
partnership, due to the unexpectedness with which the announcement was made.[3]
Thus, Canada has yet to make
an official funding announcement.[4] Sources:
[1] Mike Trickey, "Russia, Mideast steal Africa's limelight: Big bucks go to
Putin, media focus on peace plan," Ottawa Citizen, 28 June 2002.
[2] Les Whittington, "Russia to get $20 billion to dismantle aging nukes;
Canada to contribute $1 billion to keep arsenal from terrorists," Toronto Star,
27 June 2002; in "Canada's $1 Billion for G8 Nonproliferation Plan To Include
Technical Support," FBIS Document EUP20020628000403.
[3] Joanne Dufay, "The G8 plutonium plan is a threat to peace," Ottawa Citizen,
15 July 2002.
[4] E-mail correspondence from official at the Nuclear and Chemical Disarmament
Implementation Agency, Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and
International Trade, 12 August 2002.
12/1995: RUSSIA AND CANADA AGREE TO COOPERATE ON NUCLEAR SAFETY
AND TECHNOLOGY
In December 1995, Russia and Canada agreed to a program for joint
work on nuclear safety and technology. This was meant predominantly to be
a research project on the safety of channel type nuclear reactors such as the RBMK and the
CANDU.[2] Russia's Minatom and the Canadian company Candesal Incorporated
also signed a Memorandum of Understanding to conduct a feasibilty study for floating nuclear desalination
complexes. These facilities are to use Minatom's KLT-40 reactors and
Candesal's
reverse osmosis desalination units. The project is partially funded by the
government of Canada. ["Russia's
Cooperation with the Nuclear Summit Participants: the USA, Great Britain,
France, Germany, Italy, Canada, and Japan," International Affairs, 1996, vol. 42, no. 3,
pp. 47-48.]
Page last updated 20 April 2005
Comments or questions? Contact Contact Cristina Chuen at MIIS CNS: Cristina.ChuenATmiis.edu
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