RUSSIA DELIVERED 200 TONS OF HIGHLY ENRICHED URANIUM TO UNITED STATES OVER 10 YEARS

MOSCOW, JANUARY 14 (RIA NOVOSTI) - Russia delivered to the United States more than 200 tons of weapons-grade highly enriched uranium (VOU) over ten years since the signing of the VOU-NOU contract. On January 14, 1994 it was concluded by the US Enrichment Corporation (USEC) and the Russian foreign trade company, Tekhsnabexport for the implementation of the agreement, signed between the governments of the two countries, on the use of highly enriched uranium extracted from nuclear weapons.

The contract stipulates the delivery to the United States of low-enriched uranium (NOU) produced at the enterprises of the Russian atomic energy ministry from the VOU. In the United States, the low-enriched uranium is being used as fuel for atomic power plants. According to the Russian company, at present about 10% of energy is being generated in the United States by burning fuel on the basis of the Russian NOU.

Russia received more than $4 billion under this contract. Last year, the sum from the NOU realization made up about 10% of all planned non-tax Russian budget revenues. These means are being used to finance the programs of enhancing the security of the Russian atomic power plants, conversion of defense production processes and ecological purification of impure territories, Tekhsnabexport reports.

In addition, according to the company's data, numerous jobs in the Russian atomic energy industry and in the related industries, which ensure the necessary infrastructure for the fulfillment of the contract, have been created and are being maintained.

The United States, according to the terms of this contract, returned to Russia almost 25,000 tons of natural uranium over the past ten years. This can ensure the raw materials requirements of the Russian atomic energy industry in the course of several years.

Russia should deliver to the USA 500 tons of VOU in compliance with this contract, signed 20 years ago.