29 August 2000 Energy Secretary Richardson Announces Safe Packaging of Kazakh Plutonium The United States is committed to the economic development and stability of Central Asia, Energy Secretary Bill Richardson said August 29 at the conclusion of a two-day visit to Kazakhstan. He also said the United States intends to broaden economic ties with Kazakhstan and expand cooperation in the energy sector. Richardson announced that more than two-and-a-half tons of weapons-grade plutonium from the BN-350 breeder reactor in Aktau had been safely packaged, thus completing 85% of the task of securing spent nuclear fuel at the site. The Energy Department said the United States supports plans to shut down the Aktau reactor, which would eliminate a source of production of weapons-grade fuel and lessen the chances of an environmental incident on the Caspian Sea. Richardson also announced a $4 million project aimed at creating employment opportunities for Kazakhstani scientists with expertise in weapons of mass destruction, and an agreement to continue science and technology cooperation with Kazakhstan. Following is the text of the release: U.S. Department of Energy August 29, 2000 U.S. Secretary Richardson Highlights Strong U.S.-Kazakhstan Economic Relationship Expands Energy Cooperation; Announces Non-proliferation Progress U.S. Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson concluded a two-day visit to Kazakhstan today that included meetings in Astana, Kazakhstan, with President Nazarbayev, Prime Minister Tokayev, Foreign Minister Idrisov, and Minister of Energy, Industry and Trade Shkolnik. "The United States is committed to the economic development and stability of Central Asia. Kazakhstan has the opportunity to develop its resources to ensure prosperity and security for its people," said Secretary Richardson. "Our companies are excited about investment opportunities here, and we look forward to broadening the economic ties between the two nations." The Department of Energy announced plans to expand its energy cooperation with Kazakhstan by: conducting an oil spill emergency response conference, establishing a cooperative oil- and gas-related training program for Kazakhstan and other countries in the region, and providing assistance with the U.S. Trade and Development Agency to expand the port facilities at Aktau. Secretary Richardson also announced that more than two-and-a-half tons of weapons-grade plutonium from the BN-350 breeder reactor in Aktau, Kazakhstan, have been secured. "Together with Kazakhstan, we have now finished 85 percent of the job, safely packaging nearly 2,800 fuel assemblies, to help reduce the vulnerability of high-quality plutonium in the western region of the country," said Secretary Richardson. "Had this unneeded reactor fuel not been secured it could have posed a serious risk to U.S. and global security." Since 1998, Energy Department specialists have been working at the reactor in Aktau to secure spent fuel assemblies, which both stabilizes the material and reduces the attractiveness of the material to theft. The United States and Kazakhstan expect to complete the project by February 2001. They will then proceed with a project to address the longer-term storage and disposition of the fuel. The material at Aktau is a major proliferation risk -- it represents three tons of "ivory grade" plutonium contained in approximately 300 metric tons of spent fuel. The BN-350 is a fast breeder reactor located in a strategically important position on the Caspian Sea's eastern shore. Kazakhstan has requested U.S. assistance to secure spent fuel at the reactor and to ensure that it is shut down in a safe manner. In December 1999, Secretary Richardson and Minister Shkolnik signed an agreement to facilitate U.S. support in efforts to decommission the BN-350 reactor. The U.S. will support efforts to plan for the safe shutdown of the reactor, and to decontaminate, drain and deactivate the reactor's sodium coolant. Thus far, $3.8 million is planned for this purpose. The decommissioning activity will eliminate a source of weapons-grade plutonium production, while avoiding a possible environmental incident on the shores of the Caspian Sea. The Secretary also announced that the Energy Department's Initiatives for Proliferation Prevention project will award up to $4 million to nine Kazakhstani institutes to support research projects and create employment opportunities for scientists with expertise in weapons of mass destruction and to reduce the risk of their migration to countries of proliferation concern. In addition, the U.S. and Kazakhstan agreed to extend an agreement to continue science and technology cooperation in the areas of basic life, engineering, space and environmental sciences, and public health research. The original agreement was signed by Vice President Gore in 1994. President Nazarbayev and Secretary Richardson also witnessed the signing of an agreement between Chevron and the Kazakhstan national oil company, Kazakoil, to purchase an additional five percent of the Tengizchevroil oil consortium that operates the Tengiz oil field. (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov Return to the Washington File