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Updated April 2006
Kazakhstan Profile: Full-Text Documents
Fact Sheet on U.S.-Kazakhstan BN-350 Nuclear Materials Disposition Program
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THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Vice President
For Immediate Release November 18, 1997
U.S.-KAZAKHSTAN JOINT COMMISSION
Fact Sheet on U.S.-Kazakhstan BN-350 Nuclear Materials Disposition Program
* The BN-350 Nuclear Materials Disposition Program is an excellent example of expanding U.S.Kazakhstan security cooperation.
* The Program will assist Kazakhstan to meet long-term security and storage requirements for plutonium-bearing spent fuel currently located at the Aktau reactor.
* The program does not involve any separated plutonium.
* All spent fuel will be stored under safeguards in compliance with Kazakhstan's agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency.
* Primary responsibility for U.S. funds will come from the Department of Energy Office of Arms Control and Nonproliferation with additional start-up funding from the Department of State Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund.
* The U.S. Department of Energy and the Ministry of Science-Academy of Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan will each select and direct Integrating Contractors to carry out work funded by their respective countries.
* Fuel assembly stabilization, containerization and storage procedures will take advantage of modern technologies to enhance nonproliferation goals of both the United States and Kazakhstan.
* The program will include modification of the reactor core to further reduce risks of proliferation.
* The Government of Kazakhstan has stated that the reactor will be shut down and decommissioned no later than the year 2003.
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