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Updated September 2008
Nuclear Fuel Cycle Facilities
Paldiski Training Reactor Facility
 |
| Paldiski before demolition work |
Location: Pakri Peninsula, 4km from Paldiski, approximately 47km west of Tallinn.
["The Paldiski Nuclear Facilities: A precedent in international co-operation," Estonia Today, Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Web Site, 1995.]
Background:
Historically, the Paldiski Peninsula housed three military units of the former Soviet Union: No. 10717 of the Navy, No. 03115 of the Missile Forces, No. 2198 of the Coast Guard.[1] On 30 September 1995, control over the facility was successfully transferred from Russian to Estonian officials. The negotiations between Estonia and Russia, the transfer of the facility, and the development of a plan for the safe decommissioning of the facility have been supervised by the Paldiski International Expert Reference Group, which monitors compliance with IAEA recommendations and internationally accepted practices.[2]
Sources:
[1] "Environmental Action Plan for Paldiski," The Nordic Environment Finance Corporation Web Site, http://www.nefco.fi/paldisk.htm.
[2] Arnold Bonne and Candace Chan-Sands, "Technology Transfer & The Manangement of Radioactive Waste," IAEA Web Site, http://www.iaea.org/.../article8.html.
Reactors: Two (dismantled)
UNITS:
Unit 1: initial criticality 4/10/68, last criticality 12/28/89
Unit 2: initial criticality 2/10/83, last criticality 12/28/89
["The Paldiski Nuclear Facilities: A precedent in international co-operation," Estonia Today, Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Web Site, http://www.vm.ee/etoday/1995/9509pal.html, 1995.]
Type: Pressurized-water submarine training reactors
Power: Unit 1: 70 MWe*
Unit 2: 90 MWe*
*Early reports list this as 25 MWe.
Sources:
[1] Baltic News Service, 10 October 1994, in "Russians Remove Rods From 2d Paldiski Reactor," FBIS-SOV-94-197, 10 October 1994. [2] Indrik Tarand, "Export Controls In Estonia," paper presented at Freudenstadt, Germany, 31 May 1994, PRIF Nonproliferation Program, Conference of European Nonproliferation Experts.
[3] "Swedes and Estonians Get Close, But Not Inside Paldiski Reactors," Nucleonics Week, 18 June 1992, p. 13.
Fuel: Uranium enriched to 20%. Removed from Unit 1 in 9/94; removed from Unit 2 in 8/94.
Sources:
[1] "The Paldiski Nuclear Facilities: A precedent in international co-operation," Estonia Today, Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Web Site, http://www.vm.ee/etoday/1995/9509pal.html, 1995.
[2] BNS (Tallinn), 10/10/94; in "Russians Remove Rods From 2nd Reactor," FBIS-SOV-94-197, 10/10/94.
Status:
Paldiski was the site of a Soviet (subsequently Russian) naval base from 1968 to August 1994. The former base covers an area of 650 hectares.[1] As of 9/26/95, both reactors at Paldiski had been dismantled. The fuel from Units 1 and 2 has been removed and transported to Russia. Paldiski is now under Estonian control: on 9/26/95, Russian Rear Admiral Alexander Olkhovikov signed a document that handed over control of the former Soviet submarine base.[2] At the signing of the document finalizing the transfer of Paldiski to Estonia, it was announced that the two-story concrete sarcophagus for the decommissioned reactors was complete.[3,4] The decommissioning effort was overseen by Olkhovikov and Estonian Site Trustee Juri Tikk.[5] In 1994, the US and Finnish governments provided, respectively, $2 million and $420,000 in funding for the project.[4] The original Russian decommissioning plan called for defueling the reactors in 1995 and decommissioning them between 1995 and 2000, with site cleanup after a survey. Following advice from Swedish experts, the plan was modified to provide for defueling in 1994 and conservation of the reactors in 1995, followed by transfer of ownership from Russia to Estonia. Estonia would then assume responsibility for site cleanup.[6] In August 2005, the Estonian government announced a tender for the reconstruction of Paldiski's main building and the placement of tightened seals on the reactors to ensure long-term safety of the stored radioactive waste for a period of at least 50 years.[7]
Sources:
[1] "Case Studies," Base Closure and Redevelopment in Central and Eastern Europe, Bonn International Center for Conversion Report II, July 1997, pp. 62-3.
[2] Saulius Girnius, "Russia Hands Over Paldiski Base to Estonia," OMRI Daily Digest, Vol. 1, No. 188, 9/27/95, p.1; "Grazhdanskiy Gorod Paldiski," Molodezh Estonii, 9/26/95, p. 2.
[3] Moscow NTV "SEGODNYA" newscast, 9/26/95; "Paldiski Naval Base Handed Over to Estonia," in FBIS-UMA-95-192-S, 9/26/95.
[4] Jon Henly, "Estonia is Left a Toxic Legacy, GUARDIAN, 9/27/95.
[5] Ariane Sains, "Paldiski Sub Training Reactors Being Dismantled By Russia," Nucleonics Week, 1/9/94, p. 17.
[6] Ann MacLachlan, "Estonia to Take Title to Cleaned Ex-Soviet Nuclear Training Site," Nucleonics Week, 9/7/95, p.7.
[7] "Work at Ensuring Safety of Estonia's Paldiski Nuclear Site to Begin," Baltic News Service, August 16, 2005; in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe.
Spent Fuel and Radioactive Waste:
Approximately 800,000 liters of radioactive waste water was produced while the facility's training reactors were in operation. This waste was stored in concrete tanks.[1,2,3] As of July 1997, there was no evidence that any toxic waste had leaked into the environment.[4] According to the Estonian representative at the 44th IAEA General Conference, as of September 2000, the Estonian government had conditioned all solid radioactive waste left at Paldiski, and was in the process of conditioning liquid wastes, a job expected to take two more years.[5]
Sources:
[1] Jaan Saar, "Hazardous radiation sites," Estonian Ministry of Environment Web Site, http://www.envir.ee/ehp/radiatio.htm.
[2] "Cleaning Up Paldiski," Nuclear Engineering International, March 1995, p. 6. {updated 2/3/98 djw}
[3] Antti Vuorinen, "Status Report of the Chairman," report to be presented at the the 26 January 1995 meeting of Council of the Baltic States, Committee of Senior Officials, and Working Group on Nuclear and Radiation Safety, Baltinfo Web Site, http://www.baltinfo.org/Docs/ministerial/15/cso5n.htm.
[4] "Case Studies," Base Closure and Redevelopment in Central and Eastern Europe, Bonn International Center for Conversion Report II, July 1997, pp. 62-3.
[5] "44th IAEA General Conference: Daily wrap of events and statements," GC Daily Journal online edition, http://www.iaea.org/.../digest210900am.html, 21 September 2000.
Archived Developments
12 January 1998: PALDISKI MAY BE SITE OF FUTURE WASTE STORAGE FACILITY
A spokeswoman for the Estonian Ministry of the Environment stated that the ministry will look into the possibility of creating a waste storage site in Paldiski. Consultations between the ministry and IAEA representatives are taking place to find a suitable site to bury Estonia's radioactive waste for 1000 years.
["Radioactive Waste May Get Home," Baltic Times, 15-21 January 1998, p. 4.] [entered 1/30/98 djw]
5 August 1997: ESTONIAN FIRM BEGINS MANUFACTURING WASTE CONTAINERS
The Estonian firm Rakveri has begun constructing 100 20 cubic meter-capacity concrete storage containers to hold waste from the Paldiski facility. Project manager Kojt Jalakas stated that it will take five months to fill the order. Rakveri is using technology from the Swedish firm Studsvik Radvast to handle and store the hazardous waste.
["Rakveri Plant Produces Containers To Store Nuclear Waste From Submarine Warfarer Training Centre In Paldiski," RIA Novosti http://www.russia.net/ria/hotline/1997.htm, Issue 6, 25 August 1997.] {entered 8/8/97 djw}
10 June 1997: RADIOACTIVE RODS PREPARED FOR REMOVAL FROM PALDISKI
Six employees of the firm RAS Alara are currently working on a two-stage project of removing approximately 20 3.6-meter radioactive rods which have been lying for decades in a radioactive waste deposit at Paldiski.[2] The highly radioactive europium rods are to be removed from storage by remote-control cranes and cut into one-meter long pieces before being placed in concrete storage tubes with 50cm thick walls.[1] RAS Alara deputy director Henno Putnik stated that ten rods from one sector will be packed in June while the remaining rods will be packed in August. The storage tubes will then be placed in a new interim storage facility.[2]
Sources:
[1] "Preparations Start To Pack Reactor Rods at Paldiski Site," Baltic News Service, 19 May 1997.
[2] "Paldiski Prepares For Removal of Radioactive Rods From Soviet-Era Deposit," Baltic News Service, 10 June 1997. {entered 7/1/97 djw}
27 March 1997: FIRM BEGINS TO REMOVE REMAINING WASTE FROM PALDISKI
The firm RAS Alara has begun the removal of low-level radioactive waste from the former Soviet nuclear waste facility at Paldiski. Approximately 40 cubic meters of waste are to be packed into 200-liter steel barrels over a two-week period. The barrels will then be encased in concrete containers and placed in temporary storage inside the reactor building. The deputy director of RAS Alara, Henno Putnik, told Baltic News Service that the waste removal was complicated by the fact that the Russian military had left behind no documentation or information about the waste. The waste, such as low-level radioactive work clothes, metal, wood, and other items, was simply dumped into storerooms at the site. He added that packing and storing the waste posed no danger to people because the radioactive waste is low-level and will be stored within a two-story building. At present, the radioactivity level of the waste is 5 mr an hour, as opposed to 2 mr an hour, which is considered the safe level for humans.
["Radioactive Waste Packing Begins in Paldiski," Baltic News Service, 27 March 1997] {entered 4/9/97 djw}
February 1997: ESTONIA LACKS FUNDS TO CLEAN UP FACILITIES
The Estonian government needs an estimated $125 million to cover the costs of cleaning up several facilities for the storage and disposal of radioactive waste and spent fuel. Of that amount, $100 million is necessary to decommission nuclear submarines and construct a spent fuel repository at the Paldiski naval base, which was transferred from Russian to Estonian control in September 1995. The remainder is needed for cleaning up uranium processing residues and uranium mill tailings from the Sillamae Metal and Chemical Production Plant. The Estonian government is currently developing a comprehensive nuclear waste and spent fuel management program which will shut down an unspecified low-level waste facility near Tallinn. (Note: This could either be the Saku or Tammiku repository.) Waste from that facility will then be shipped to the Paldiski site. Estonia has requested that the Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Company (SKB) evaluate three potential sites for low- and medium-level waste disposal.
["Estonia," NUKEM, February 1997, pp. 17-18.] {updated 4/9/97 djw}
15-26 April 1996: US EXPERTS CONDUCT RESEARCH AT PALDISKI
A team of US experts from the Department of Energy conducted research on radiological damage at Paldiski using a new technology called "GammaCam" imaging. Results of this survey were to be presented at the Paldiski International Expert Reference group meeting in Tallinn at the end of April 1996. This visit concluded the DOE's cooperative radiological survey project with the Estonian company ALARA, thus fulfilling the requirements of the March 1995 Memorandum of Understanding between Estonia and the United States. As part of this agreement, American experts also conducted an aerial radioactive survey in July 1995 and a ground radiological survey in March 1995.
["American Experts Work At Paldiski," Baltic News Service, 17 April 1996.]
3 November 1995: RUSSIAN DISMANTLING CREWS LEAVE
All but a few of the 200-plus members of the Russian dismantling crews have left Paldiski and returned to Russia.
["Members Of Russian Crews Have Left Paldiski, Whereabouts Of One Still Unknown," Baltic News Service, 3 November 1995.]
26 September 1995: RUSSIAN MILITARY PERSONNEL DUE TO LEAVE PALDISKI
The last of the Russian military personnel should leave Paldiski by 9/28/95, leaving only military pensioners who do not want to return to Russia.
["Segodnya" newscast, NTV, 26 September 1995; "Paldiski Naval Base Handed Over to Estonia," in FBIS-UMA-95-192-S, 26 September 1995.]
22 September 1995: RUSSIA TO COMPLETE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SARCOPHAGUS
It was reported that Russian specialists should complete construction of the concrete sarcophagus around the reactors at Paldiski by 9/22/95.
["Wrap Up In Estonia," Post-Soviet Nuclear & Defense Monitor, 22 September 1995, p.14.]
7 September 1995: ESTONIA TO TAKE OVER PALDISKI FOUR DAYS EARLY
Mark Sinisoo, a senior counselor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tallinn, stated that Estonia will take responsibility for the Paldiski facility on September 26, 1995. This date is four days earlier than the date required in a 7/30/94 agreement with Russia.
[Ann MacLachlan, "Estonia to Take Title to Cleaned Ex-Soviet Nuclear Training Site," Nucleonics Week, 7 September 1995, p.7.]
10 August 1995: FIRST BUILDING AT PALDISKI TRANSFERRED TO ESTONIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY
Russia transferred the first building at Paldiski to the Estonian Defense Ministry. By 9/30/95 the transfer of the entire facility must be complete. At this time one of the two nuclear reactors will be sealed in concrete.
["Naval Base Handover," Jane's Defence Weekly, 26 August 1995, p. 11.]
14 July 1995: DOE COMPLETED SITE CHARACTERIZATION AT PALDISKI
DOE completed a US-funded site characterization at the Paldiski facility and briefed Estonian Ambassador Niitenberg on the results on 7/30. Mark Sinisoo, a senior counselor to the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reported that an aerial survey of the site conducted in mid-June 1995 under a $2 million US grant showed the contamination level of the depository to be "satisfactory by western standards".
Sources:
[1] "Wrap Up in Estonia," Post-Soviet Nuclear and Defense Monitor, 18 August 1995, p.13.
[2] Ann MacLachlan, "Estonia to Take Title to Cleaned Ex-Soviet Nuclear Training Site," Nucleonics Week, 7 September 1955, p.7.
15 May 1995: RUSSIA TO SPEND $3.4 MILLION TO CLEAN UP PALDISKI
It was reported that Russia will spend 17 billion rubles ($ 3.4 million) on cleaning up the environment at the Paldiski facility. Juri Tikk, Estonia's special representative at the Paldiski nuclear facility, said the Russians are planning to encase the reactors in concrete by the end of 9/95.
[Saulius Girnius, "Russian Payments For Decommissioning Nuclear Base In Estonia," OMRI DAILY DIGEST, 16 May 1995.]
10 May 1995: ONE REACTOR AT PALDISKI DISMANTLED
One reactor at Paldiski has reportedly been completely dismantled. Dismantlement work on the second reactor, as of 5/95, is four-fifths complete.
[BNS (Tallinn), 10 May 1995; in FBIS-SOV-95-092, "Dismantling Of Paldiski Nuclear Plant Nears Completion," 10 May 1995.]
14 March 1995: FINAL DISMANTLEMENT OF PALDISKI REVIEWED
An international conference of experts in Stockholm reviewed the overall plan for the final dismantlement of the Paldiski reactors. Final evaluation of the plan by the International Atomic Energy Agency will be completed by early May. For the first time, at this meeting, Russia described the sarcophagus that will cover the two reactors.
[Paevaleht (Tallinn), 16 March 1995, p. 3; in "Paldiski Reactor Dismantling Plan Reviewed," FBIS-SOV-95-102-S, 26 May 1995, pp. 104-105.]
3/13/95: BILATERAL MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE US AND ESTONIA SIGNED
US President Bill Clinton and Estonian President Lennart Meri met in Tallinn and witnessed the signing of a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding between their two nations. The agreement, which was signed by the Estonian Energy Minister, Arvo Niitenberg, and the US Assistant Secretary of Energy, Thomas Grumbly, calls for an assessment of radiation levels at the Paldiski facility (to be conducted in early spring 1995), and the training of Estonian workers in nuclear dismantlement and decontamination and safety methods. The agreement also calls for an on-site manager to coordinate US aid efforts and to coordinate with the Estonian Energy Ministry in developing a Paldiski decommissioning plan.
[ETA (Tallinn), 13 March 1995; in "Agreement On Paldiski Facility Clean-Up Signed With US," JPRS-TEN-95-005, 13 March 1995.]
3/95: US OFFICIALS ASSESS RADIOACTIVE WASTE CONTAMINATION AT PALDISKI
US officials from DOE, Sandia National Laboratory, and Los Alamos National Laboratory visited Paldiski to assess the radioactive waste contamination. As of 31 March 1995, DOE had spent $250,000 on this assessment.
["Nuclear Safety: Concerns With Nuclear Facilities and Other Sources of Radiation in the Former Soviet Union," GAO Report to the Honorable Bob Graham, US Senate, GAO/RCED-96-4, November 1995, p. 33.]
3/95: AID IN DECOMMISSIONING PALDISKI TO BE PROVIDED
Aid in decommissioning the facility is being provided by the Paldiski International Experts Reference Group. Members include: Estonia, the European Union, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, Russia, Sweden and the United States.
[ETA (Tallinn), 13 March 1995; in "Agreement On Paldiski Facility Clean-Up Signed With US," JPRS-TEN-95-005, 13 March 1995.]
1/11/95: FINNISH COMPANY BEGINS PROCESS OF PURIFYING CONTAMINATED WATER AT PALDISKI
Three to four employees of the Finnish company Imatran Voima Oy (IVO), in accordance with an agreement signed between the company and the Estonian government in 1994, began the four month process of purifying approximately 500 cubic meters of water contaminated with low level radiation from the Paldiski reactors. The workers will filter out as much as 350 cubic meters of radioactive mud. The water will be released into the sea after being tested by the Estonian Environmental Ministry. IVO is expected to examine ways in which radioactive contamination can then be removed from the mud as well. It is estimated that the underground storage tanks contain 450 tons of radioactive mud. The agreement is worth 1.3 million kroons or approximately $100,000. The Finnish government is financing the $100,000 project.
Sources:
[1] Baltic News Service, 10 January 1995; in "Finns Start Purifying Radioactive Water," FBIS-SOV-95-007, 10 January 1995.
[2] Russian Television Network,22 January 1995; in "Purifying Of Liquid Radioactive Waste Begins," FBIS-SOV-95-014, 22 January 1995.
[3] Baltic News Service, 24 January 1995; in "First 50 Tons Of Reactor Water Purified At Paldiski," FBIS-SOV-95-016, 24 January 1995.
1/10/95: ESTONIAN, RUSSIAN, SWEDISH, AND US NUCLEAR SPECIALISTS DISCUSS DISMANTLEMENT OF PALDISKI
Estonian, Russian, Swedish, and US nuclear specialists met in Tallinn to discuss dismantlement of the Paldiski reactors. Russia is supporting a plan to cover the reactors with concrete one half meter thick. The Estonian Foreign Ministry announced that the on-site radioactive waste storage facility would be removed. [1] The Russian transfer of the Paldiski facility to Estonian authorities is scheduled to occur by 30 September 1995. [2]
Sources:
[1] Baltic News Service, 10 January 1995; in "International Experts Discuss Paldiski Reactor Dismantling," FBIS-SOV-95-007, 10 January 1995.
[2] Baltic News Service, 10 January 1995; in "Finns Start Purifying Radioactive Water," FBIS-SOV-95-007, 10 January 1995. See also Baltic News Service, 25 January 1995; in "Plans To Dump Radioactive Waste At Paldiski Revealed," FBIS-SOV-95-017, 25 January 1995.
10/15/94: FUEL RODS FROM PALDISKI TRANSPORTED TO RUSSIA
According to Juri Tikk, the fuel rods from both Paldiski reactors were transported by train to Russia.
[Saulius Girnius, "Nuclear Fuel Rods Leave Estonia," RFE/RL DAILY REPORT, 17 October 1994.]
10/10/94: FUEL RODS SAFELY REMOVED FROM PALDISKI
Juri Tikk said that Russian experts safely removed fuel rods from the number two Paldiski reactor. The rods, which were placed into 12 special containers, are to be shipped with rods from the first reactor in late October 1994 to Krasnoyarsk, Russia. The Estonian-Russian decommissioning agreement calls for complete dismantlement of the Paldiski reactors by the end of September 1995.
[Baltic News Service, 10 October 1994; in "Russians Remove Rods From 2nd Paldiski Reactor," FBIS-SOV-94-197, 10 October 1994.]
9/14/94: EXAMINATION OF PALDISKI DISMANTLING AGREEMENT STARTED
A study of the July 1994 Estonian-Russian agreements, which is being conducted under the direction of the Estonian Justice Minister and involves the participation of outside experts, started an examination of the Paldiski dismantling agreement.
[Tallinn Radio, 7 October 1994; in "Government To Extend Review for Russian Treaties," FBIS-SOV-94-197, 7 October 1994.]
9/7/94: FUEL FROM PALDISKI COMPLETELY REMOVED
Fuel from the Paldiski reactor's first unit was completely removed.
[ETA (Tallinn), 8 September 1994; in "Removal Of Fuel From 1st Paldiski Reactor Completed," FBIS-SOV-94-175, 9 September 1994, p. 74.]
9/94: 70 MW REACTOR REOPENED
Russian experts reopen the 70 MW reactor.
[Baltic News Service, 10 October 1994; in "Russians Remove Rods From 2nd Reactor," FBIS-SOV-94-197, 10 October 1994.]
8/24/94: DECOMMISSIONING OF PALDISKI BEGINS
Russian experts begin decommissioning the two Paldiski reactors.
[Fred Hiatt, "Russians Stay To Deactivate Sub Reactors," Washington Post, 1 September 1994, p. A14.]
8/94: 90 MW REACTOR REOPENED
Russian experts reopen the 90 MW reactor.
[Baltic News Service, 10 October 1994; in "Russians Remove Rods From 2nd Reactor," FBIS-SOV-94-197, 10 October 1994.]
7/30/94: AGREEMENT BETWEEN RUSSIA AND ESTONIA ON REMOVAL OF FUEL RODS SIGNED
Raul Malk, Deputy Chancellor of Estonia’s Foreign Ministry, and Igor Ivanov, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister, signed an agreement under which the roughly 200 fuel rods located in Unit 1 of Paldiski will be removed by 9/15/94, and the second reactor's fuel will be removed by 10/20/94. By the end of 1994, all of the fuel is to be packed for shipment to Russia.
Sources:
[1] Ariane Sains, "Paldiski Sub Training Reactors Being Dismantled By Russia," Nucleonics Week, 1 September 1994.
[2] Armenian Radio Channel 1 Network, 17 April 1995; in "Premier Meets IAEA Officials On Nuclear Plant Safety," FBIS-SOV-95-074, 17 April 1995.
[3] Indrek Tarand, "Estonia," in Nuclear Export Controls in Europe, Harald Mueller, ed., European Interuniversity Press (Brussels), 1995, pp. 269-270. {updated 1/29/97 djw}
7/6/94: US PRESIDENT PROMISES $2 MILLION IN TECHNICAL AID
US President Bill Clinton promised to provide $2 million in technical aid to assist Estonia in dealing with problems caused by the Paldiski reactors. The US Department of Energy will assist with a decommissioning plan, an overall site characterization study, and the training of Estonian personnel.
Sources:
[1] ETA (Tallinn), 13 March 1995; in "Agreement On Paldiski Facility Clean-Up Signed With U.S.,"JPRS-TEN-95-005, 13 March 1995.
[2] "Nuclear Safety: Concerns With Nuclear Facilities and Other Sources of Radiation in the Former Soviet Union," GAO Report to the Honorable Bob Graham, US Senate, GAO/RCED-96-4, November 1995, p. 33.
7/94: ESTONIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY REPORTS CONFUSION OVER NUCLEAR MATERIAL ISSUES
Senior counselor for the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mark Sinisoo said in a report to the Nuclear Energy Agency that confusion over issues of liability, ownership and the movement of nuclear materials could hurt efforts to decommission the Paldiski reactors.
[Ariane Sains, "Web of Legal Issues Could Hamper Efforts To Decommission Reactors," Nucleonics Week, 29 September 1994, p. 13.]
5/31/94: RUSSIANS WANT TO MAINTAIN A MILITARY PRESENCE AT PALDISKI UNTIL THE YEAR 2000
The Russians, who have approximately 1,000 military personnel stationed at Paldiski, would like to maintain a military presence at the facility until the year 2000.
[Indrik Tarand, "Export Controls In Estonia," paper presented at Freudenstadt, Germany, 31 May 1994, PRIF Nonproliferation Program, Conference of European Nonproliferation Experts.]
5/30/94: FOREIGN MINISTER EVALUATES THE COST AND PROCESS OF PALDISKI DISMANTLEMENT
Estonian Foreign Minister Juri Luik told the Estonian Parliament that the cost of dismantling the Paldiski reactors will be $10 million and will take three years to complete. The reactors will be dismantled in three stages. The first stage will involve the removal of the nuclear fuel from the reactors and its delivery to Russia. During the second stage, Russia will remove those items it considers to be state secrets. The third stage will involve the shipment of the reactors and the radioactive waste to Russia.
[Saulius Girnius, "Dismantling Of Reactors In Paldiski," RFE/RL News Brief, 30 May 1994, pp. 13-14.]
3/29/94: ESTONIAN INTERIOR MINISTER APPROVES PLAN FOR DISMANTLING PALDISKI
Estonian Interior Minister Heiki Arike approved the plan by the Paldiski coordination commission for dismantling the Paldiski reactors. [1] It is reported by Ecodefense! that the Estonian government received $5 million in US aid to use for dismantling the two nuclear reactors at Paldiski. [2] The Estonian government allocated 1.4 million kroons toward dismantling the Paldiski reactors. [3]
Sources:
[1] Baltic News Service, 30 March 1994; in "Minister Approves Plan For Reactor Dismantling," FBIS-SOV-94-062, 31 March 1994, p. 54.
[2] "Ecodefense! Reports. . . ," Environmental Cooperation Bulletin, July 1994.
[3] Radio Tallinn Network, 3 May 1994; in "Price For Nuclear Reactor Dismantling Reported," FBIS-SOV-94-086, 4 May 1994, p. 56.
3/94: JOINT ESTONIAN-RUSSIAN TRAINING TAKES PLACE AT PALDISKI
Joint Estonian-Russian training was conducted to coordinate rescue activities in case of an accident during the dismantlement of the Paldiski facility.
[Indrik Tarand, "Export Controls In Estonia," paper presented at Freudenstadt, Germany, 31 May 1994, PRIF Nonproliferation Program, Conference of European Nonproliferation Experts.]
12/93: EQUIPMENT FOR DISMANTLING PALDISKI ARRIVES
Shipments of equipment necessary to dismantle the reactors began arriving in late December 1993 and were to have been completed by January 1994. The first materials to be removed reportedly were to have been radioactive wastes.
[Nezavisimaya gazeta, 29 December 1993, p. 3; in FBIS-SOV-93-249, 30 December 1993, p. 76.]
11/92: RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR STATES RUSSIA'S READINESS TO APPROACH IAEA ON THE ISSUE OF DECOMMISSIONING PALDISKI
The Russian Ambassador to Estonia announced that Russia, together with Estonia, is ready to approach the IAEA on the issue of decommissioning the Paldiski reactors. Estonia will probably seek international assistance to finance the shutdown.
[FBIS-SOV-92-226, 23 November 1992, p. 82.]
This
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