Russia: Zarechnyy (Penza-19) Overview

The closed city of Zarechnyy (formerly Penza-19), located 12km from the city of Penza, Penza Oblast, was founded in 1954.[1,2,4] Zarechnyy is the location of the Start Production Association (PO Start).[5] PO Start is one of four Minatom nuclear warhead assembly and disassembly facilities.[6,7] According to First Deputy Minister of Atomic Energy Lev Ryabev, Start had stopped assembling nuclear weapons by 2000. Minatom has indicated its intention to end warhead dismantlement at this facility in 2003.[7] PO Start also produces detonation systems and other automatic and electronic components and subassemblies of nuclear munitions.[3,8] Zarechnyy also is the location of the Research and Design Institute of Radio Electronics Engineering (NIKIRET), which is part of Minatom's  Eleron Association, a major developer and producer of physical protection systems and equipment for nuclear facilities.[8,9] In 1996, the population of Zarechnyy was slightly less than 64,000.[10] For additional information on the city of Zarechnyy, click on the following links:  http://db.mupitt.penza.ru, http://www.zarechny.penza.ru.
Sources:
[1] Zarechnyy Web Site, http://db.mupitt.penza.ru.
[2] Richard H. Rowland, "Secret Cities of Russia and Kazakhstan in 1998," Post-Soviet Geography and Economics, 1999, Vol. 40, No.4, pp.281-304.
[3] Pavel Podvig, ed., Strategicheskoye yadernoye vooruzheniye Rossii (Moscow, IzdAT, 1998), pp. 90-91.
[4] Atlas avtomobilnykh dorog Rossii (Moscow, Federalnaya sluzhba geodezii i kartografii Rossii, 1996), p.69
[5] "Zhemchuzhina oboronki," Sovershenno Otkryto, No.5, 1995, pp.14-17.
[6] A. Bolsunovskiy and V. Menshchikov, "Perechen predpriyatiy, kotoryye dolzhny byt pervymi v spiske na vnedreniye sovremennykh sistem ucheta, kontrolya i fizicheskoy zashchity yadernykh materialov," Yadernyy kontrol, September 1995, p. 18.
[7] Center for Energy and Environmental Studies (CEES), Helping Russia Downsize its Nuclear Weapons Complex (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University, June 2000), p. 14; http://www.princeton.edu/~cees/arms.
[8]  "Penza-19/Zarechny," Federation of American Scientists Web Site, http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/russia/facility/nuke/penza-19.
[9]  Nuclear Business Directory (Moscow: IBR Corporation, 2000), pp. 59-60. 
[10] "Istoricheskaya spravka" Zarechnyy Web Site, http://www.zarechny.penza.ru/stor-sprav.htm {Entered 7/28/00 ES}
 

START PRODUCTION ASSOCIATION (PO START)

LOCATION: Zarechnyy (formerly Penza-19),  Penza Oblast
Address: 1 prospekt Mira, Zarechnyy
HOMEPAGE: http://start.penza.ru/ {Entered 7/2/2001 ES}
SUBORDINATION:
Minatom. Falls under the supervision of the Nuclear Munitions Production Department.[1] Previously under the Sixth Main Directorate of Minatom.[2]
Sources:
[1] Nuclear Business Directory (Moscow: IBR Corporation, 1995), p. 21.
[2] Pavel Podvig, Strategicheskoye yadernoye vooruzheniye Rossii (Moscow, 1998), pp. 90-91.{Entered 7/28/00 ES}
ADMINISTRATION:
Director: Anatoliy A. Yesin
[Nuclear Business Directory (Moscow, IBR Corporation, 2000), p. 64.]
STRUCTURE:
PO Start includes the Penza Instrument-Making Plant, Kuznetsk Machine-Building Plant, and several auxiliary facilities.[1,2] Penza Instrument Making Plant--the main facility and headquarters of the association--is located in Zarechnyy.[2] Kuznetsk Machine Building Plant, which produces specialized tools and equipment for the warhead production complex,[3,4] is located in Kuznetsk, 100 km from Zarechnyy.[5] Cochran et al., however, list Kuznetsk Machine Building Plant as a warhead components production facility located in Zarechnyy.[6]
 
There are three research and development departments at PO Start. The Serial Design Bureau develops information technology, remote control systems, and measuring instruments. The Chief Technologist Department and the Central Plant Laboratory are involved in research and development of new products and technologies.[7]
Sources:
[1] "Zhemchuzhina oboronki," Sovershenno Otkryto, No. 5, 1995, p. 14.
[2] Nuclear Business Directory (Moscow, IBR Corporation, 2000), p. 64.
[3]  "Penza-19/Zarechny," Federation of American Scientists Web Site, http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/russia/facility/nuke/penza-19.
[4] Pavel Podvig, Strategicheskoye yadernoye vooruzheniye Rossii (Moscow, 1998), p. 91.
[5] Atlas avtomobilnykh dorog Rossii (Moscow, Federalnaya sluzhba geodezii i kartografii Rossii, 1996), p.69
[6] Thomas Cochran, Robert S. Norris, Oleg Bukharin, Making the Russian Bomb: from Stalin to Yeltsin (Boulder: Westview Press, 1995), p. 49. {Entered 7/28/00 ES}
[7] PO Start Web Site, http://start.penza.ru/. {Updated 8/1/02 DA}
BACKGROUND:
Construction of the instrument-making plant (first code name - Plant No. 592) started in 1955. Initial production began in 1958. In 1960s the facility was renamed the Penza Instrument Making Plant; later, it served as the foundation for the creation of PO Start.[1,2] The plant manufactured detonation systems, electro-mechanical and electronic devices, and components and subassemblies for nuclear warheads. According to Cochran et al., it was involved in warhead component assembly, in contrast to Lesnoy, Trekhgornyy, and Sarov's Avangard facilities, where final warhead assembly took place.[3] 
Sources:
[1]  "Penza-19/Zarechny," Federation of American Scientists Web Site, http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/russia/facility/nuke/penza-19.
[2] Pavel Podvig, Strategicheskoye yadernoye vooruzheniye Rossii (Moscow, 1998), p. 91.
[3] Thomas Cochran, Robert S. Norris, Oleg Bukharin, Making the Russian Bomb: from Stalin to Yeltsin (Boulder: Westview Press, 1995), p. 49. {Entered 7/28/00 ES}
ACTIVITIES:
The Start Production Association is one of four Minatom nuclear warhead assembly and dismantlement facilities. According to Yadernyy kontrol, PO Start assembles and dismantles nuclear warheads and stores them in on-site buildings.[1] PO Start also produces detonation systems and other automatic and electronic components and subassemblies for warheads.[1,2] First Deputy Minister of Atomic Energy Lev Ryabev reported that production of new nuclear weapons at PO Start had ended by 2000 and Minatom has indicated its intention to end warhead dismantlement in 2003, when Start will have dismantled all of the warheads that it originally produced. Nuclear materials and production equipment are currently being removed from PO Start and environmental clean-up programs are in progress.[3] As part of its current conversion program, PO Start produces medical equipment, electronic security systems, physical protection system components, measuring instruments, thermal and electric energy monitoring systems, information protection systems, and fiber optic systems for data processing and transmission.[4,6]  In addition, Start manufactures car parts, instrumentation and control equipment for gas pipelines, and industrial lathes. PO Start employs roughly 11,000 people, of which 10,000 work in production divisions; the remaining 1,000 employees work in research and development divisions.[6]
 
In 1992, Start Director Anatoliy Yesin received approval from the Penza Oblast administration to begin construction on a modern, fully safeguarded storage facility for dismantled nuclear munitions. By 1993, Start had cleared forest land near the old storage site and laid foundations for the new facility.  Local environmental groups challenged the construction, which  began without the environmental impact assessment required by Russian law.  The environmentalists took their complaint to the Oblast Arbitration Court, which in 1994 ordered Start to stop construction until the environmental assessment was conducted. According to Izvestiya, the court's verdict was not enforced and in April 1997, environmentalists filed another suit, challenging the transfer of 1209 acres of land to Start.  The environmentalists won their case and Start was ordered to stop the construction. According to Izvestiya, lack of funding rather than the court decision has prevented Start from resuming construction on the facility.[5]
Sources:
[1] A. Bolsunovskiy and V. Menshchikov, "Perechen predpriyatiy, kotoryye dolzhny byt pervymi v spiske na vnedreniye sovremennykh sistem ucheta, kontrolya i fizicheskoy zashchity yadernykh materialov," Yadernyy kontrol, September 1995, p. 18.
[2]  "Penza-19/Zarechny," Federation of American Scientists Web Site, http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/russia/facility/nuke/penza-19.
[3] Center for Energy and Environmental Studies (CEES), Helping Russia Downsize its Nuclear Weapons Complex (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University, June 2000), p. 14.
[4] Nuclear Business Directory (Moscow, IBR Corporation, 2000), p. 64.
[5] Aleksandr Kislov, "Znaki katastrofy," Izvestiya, online edition, http://www.izvestiya.ru, 23 July 1997.{Entered 7/28/00 ES}
[6] PO Start Web Site, http://start.penza.ru/. {Updated 7/2/01 ES} {Updated 8/1/02 DA}
MPC&A:
The Start Production Association participates in the US Department of Energy MPC&A Program. MPC&A upgrades at Start and the three other assembly/disassembly facilities were scheduled to begin in 1998. While some portal monitors and other equipment have been sent to these facilities, US experts have not been given direct access to these sites.  In September 1999, DOE established a policy that no new contracts would be signed for work at PO Start, Trekhgornyy (Zlatoust-36), Lesnoy (Sverdlovsk-45), Sarov (Arzamas-16),   VNIIEF, and VNIITF until the issue of appropriate access is resolved.[1] In the summer of 2000 pilot projects were begun at VNIIEF and VNIITF.  However, no new work at the assembly/disassembly facilities has been undertaken since September 1999.[2]
Sources:
[1] Nuclear Nonproliferation:  Limited Progress in Improving Nuclear Material Security in Russia and the Newly Independent States, General Accounting Office Report GAO/RCED/NISAD-00-82, March 2000,  p. 11, http://www.gao.gov. 
[2] Oleg Bukharin, Matt Bunn, and Ken Luongo, Reviewing the Partnership:  Recommendations for Accelerated Action to Secure Nuclear Material in the Former Soviet Union (Washington, D.C.: RANSAC, August 2000), p. 76. {Entered 10/19/2000 GD}
 
RESEARCH AND DESIGN INSTITUTE OF RADIOELECTRONIC ENGINEERING (NIKIRET)
 
LOCATION: Zarechnyy (Penza-19), Penza Oblast
SUBORDINATION:
Minatom. In the Nuclear Business Directory NIKIRET is listed in the Nuclear Warhead Design and Testing section.
[Nuclear Business Directory (Moscow: IBR Corporation, 2000), pp.1, 59.]
ADMINISTRATION:
Director: Yuriy A. Olenin
[ Nuclear Business Directory (Moscow: IBR Corporation, 2000), pp. 59.]
BACKGROUND:
NIKIRET was established in 1977 on the basis of a special technical engineering division of the Penza Instrument Making Plant.
["Elektronnyye 'storozha' s markoy NIKIRET," Sovershenno Otkryto, 1995, No. 5, p. 22.]
ACTIVITIES:
The Research and Design Institute of Radioelectronic Engineering (NIKIRET) is part of the Moscow-based Eleron Association, Minatom's leading designer and producer of physical protection equipment. Sensors and security equipment developed and manufactured by NIKIRET are used at Minatom facilities (both internally and along their perimeters), on the country's borders, at large museums, and at banks. NIKIRET has its own production facilities and testing grounds.
["Elektronnyye 'storozha' s markoi NIKIRET," Sovershenno Otkryto, 1995, No. 5, p.22.]{Entered 7/28/00 ES}
 
ZARECHNYY AND PO START DEVELOPMENTS:
 
3/21/2001: PO START ADMINISTRATION CRITICIZES ZARECHNYY ADMINISTRATION
On 21 March 2001 Zarechye published remarks by PO Start General Director A. Yesin regarding the "Development program for the closed city Zarechnyy in 2001-2004." Yesin criticized the city administration for excluding PO Start and public organizations representing its interests from the preparation and implementation of this program, and from monitoring the distribution of city budget.[1] Lyubimaya gazeta published an open letter from PO Start leaders saying that this conflict threatens the stability of the whole city. According the Start administration, Start is the largest contributor to the city budget; additionally, because Start is located in Zarechnyy, the city has closed-city status and thus gets tax privileges and state subsidies, which make up 3/4 of the city budget.[2] Start's administration also expressed their concern that the city development program was not discussed by the city legislature and it did not take into account PO Start reorganization.[1,2] Due to the absence of defense orders and the termination of manufacturing of nuclear munitions, Start is looking into possibilities for using its facilities and personnel in other activities. Given the size and of the plant and its technology, the Start administration is exploring the market for large-scale industrial projects while, according to the city development program, Zarechnyy tends to rely on small and medium businesses.[2] 
Sources:
[1] "Programma razvitiya ZATO podverglas kritike," Zarechye, No. 12, 21 March 2001; in Minatom press digest, http://www.minatom.ru.
[2]"Net vremeni na vyyasneniya otnosheniy," Lyubimaya gazeta, No. 12, 21 March 2001; in Minatom press digest,http://www.minatom.ru. {Entered 8/14/01 RA}
 
6/21-28/2000: CONVERSION ACTIVITIES AT PO START
On 26 June 2000, Zarechnyy's local online newspaper Zarechye published an interview with PO Start Deputy Chief Engineer for New Technology and Production Yuriy Denisov regarding the facility's conversion activities. Denisov noted that conversion was first discussed at Start in the late 1980s. The first conversion program, which was approved in 1992, included plans to develop monitors and other equipment for the gas, oil, energy and metallurgical industries. Another "short term" conversion program was started in 1996, but Denisov noted that Start had had difficulties administering the program and beginning production in the one-year time frame. Denisov reported that the third conversion program, which is designed to last three years, is alive and well. Start will manufacture telemetry sensors and other electronic instruments and equipment for security systems; pressure monitors and signal converters for nuclear power plants; equipment for the automobile industry; and measurement, control, and medical equipment. Denisov stated that as of press time, 88 percent of  Start's labor goes toward civilian production. He noted that  Start has not rejected the use of dual-use technologies in its conversion program, especially in electronics. Denisov conceded that a decrease in defense orders will result in decreased revenue and levels of productivity for the facility, but he added that Start will continue producing military technology for customers other than Minatom.[1] At the beginning of June 2000, Start hosted a conference to investigate possible joint projects with the nuclear power industry. At the close of the conference, a decision was made to begin manufacturing control systems for nuclear power plants at Start, and Rosenergoatom and Minatom's Department of Conversion agreed to underwrite the costs of the project, estimated at 60 million rubles.[2]
[1]  T. Melnikova, "Karavan idet," Zarechye online edition, http://db.mupitt.penza.ru/zareche/index.html, No. 26, 28 June 2000.
[2] "Razvivaya sotrudnichestvo s AES," Zarechye online edition, http://db.mupitt.penza.ru/zareche/index.html, No. 25, 21 June 2000. {Entered 7/31/00 SS}
 

Page last updated 14 October 2002

This material is produced independently for NTI by the Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has not been independently verified by NTI or its directors, officers, employees, agents. Copyright © 2003 by MIIS.

HOME  |  CONTACT US  |  SITE MAP