[cdn-nucl-l] A. Rumyantsev and S. Abraham signed agreement to shutdown plutonium production reactors

["Radik Ixanov" <ixanov@sympatico.ca>]

On March 12 in Vienna, Russia's Atomic Energy Minister Alexander Rumyantsev
and the US Department of Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham signed documents
related to implementation of the intergovernmental agreement on cooperation
concerning the Russia's plutonium production reactors, as informed by
Minatom of Russia press service. By agreement dated September 23, 1997, all
US plutonium production reactors and nearly all Russian plutonium production
reactors (except for ADE-4, 5 in Seversk, Tomsk Region, and ADE-2 in
Zheleznogorsk, Krasnoyarsk Region) were shutdown. The latter 3 produce heat
and electricity for the local population. The signed documents provide for
assistance by the US Department of Energy to create replacement capacities
(fossil fuel district heating plants) which would eventually replace the
plutonium production reactors.
The documents were signed during the international conference, ongoing in
Vienna 10 to 13 March. Addressing the conference, Minister A. Rumyantsev
stressed that Russia is a largest producer, consumer and exporter of
radioactive sources, therefore their safe handling, especially in light of
the increased terrorist threat, is of ultimate importance for the country.
However, according to the IAEA information, since 1993 the world witnessed
201 cases of unauthorized sales of radioactive sources. As Minister
Rumyantsev noted, the tragic experience of large-scale incidents
demonstrated that the society is extremely sensitive to any radiation risks
and the most severe consequences of such incidents are phobias, primarily,
radiophobia.
“Any terrorist act involving a so-called “dirty bomb” may bring about,
besides a limited radiation impact, large scale social consequences, thus we
have to create a modern, wide public information system to educate people in
the uses of the ionizing radiation sources”, said Mr. Rumyantsev.
“Educational programs, “round tables” attended by public representatives,
governmental bodies and scientists should be used on a wider scale”, the
Minister noted.