18 May (NucNet): Russia and Kazakhstan have signed an intergovernmental agreement to establish an international uranium enrichment centre in Siberia, the Nuclear Society of Russia (NSR) has said.
The agreement was signed on 10 May 2007 in the presence of Russian president Vladimir Putin and Kazakhstan president Nursultan Nazarbayev. It makes Kazakhstan the first country to join Russia’s initiative of creating an international uranium enrichment centre, the NSR said.
Mr Putin said afterwards that the agreement was the “first step” towards the creation of a global nuclear energy infrastructure. He also said he wanted to see the two countries work together on developing innovative small and medium-capacity reactor units.
The proposed international uranium enrichment centre would be at the Angarsk Electrolysis Chemical Complex, a manufacturer of low-enriched uranium. The complex is north of Irkutsk in south-eastern Siberia.
In March 2007 talks between the International Atomic Energy Agency and Russia ended with a joint commitment to set up a working group and continue developing the international uranium enrichment centre proposal.
Talks that could lead to unifying proposed US and Russian programmes offering international nuclear fuel cycle services are also under way, but the process could take years, US deputy energy secretary Clay Sell said recently.
>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)
US And Russia Discussing ‘Unified’ World Nuclear Fuel Services Programme (News No. 65, 15 March 2007)
IAEA Says Talks Continue On Possible World Enrichment Centre In Siberia (News No. 73, 22 March 2007)
