30 August 2000 Richardson Tours Converted Former Russian Weapons Plant While on a visit to Russia, U.S. Energy Secretary Bill Richardson pledged $4.5 million for projects at a new commercial complex at the former Avangard nuclear weapons production facility. He toured the Sarov Technopark, whose first project is a German-American venture to produce kidney dialysis equipment. He also visited the Sarov Open Computing Center, where current projects involve research in oil and gas, biomolecular modeling, and high energy physics. Both facilities are part of a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) initiative that helps create commercial jobs for displaced workers in Russia's formerly closed nuclear cities. Following is the text of a DOE press release on Richardson's visit to Russia: U.S. Department of Energy Washington, D.C. August 30, 2000 Swords to Plowshares: Secretary Richardson Commissions Opening of 500,000 Square Feet for Commercial Development at Russian Weapons Plant Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson, together with Russian Minister of Atomic Energy Yevgeny Adamov, toured the new Sarov Technopark, opening ten acres and approximately ten buildings for commercial development. These buildings were formally part of the Avangard weapons production facility. "The new Sarov Technopark at Avangard is a successful example of how Russian nuclear weapons scientists and plants of the Cold War-era can join private industry in the 21st century," said Secretary Richardson. "We are eager to continue our cooperative efforts and are planning to spend at least $4.5 million on Technopark projects in 2001." The first commercial enterprise at the Sarov Technopark at Avangard is a project led by Fresenius Medical Care, a German-American company, for production of kidney dialysis equipment. The project will bring 200 new jobs to the area. A Michigan company, which manufactures automobile parts, is exploring opening a production facility at the park. Secretary Richardson also toured the Sarov Open Computing Center that he and Minister Adamov inaugurated last fall. The Open Computing Center was designed to create commercial job opportunities for former nuclear weapons scientists in the area of computer and software engineering. Projects underway include research contracts for the oil and gas industry, molecular dynamics, biomolecular modeling, and high energy physics. Currently, 100 Russians are employed at the center, with more than 500 people expected to be employed by 2005. Two other large-scale projects are being explored by Motorola and Credit Suisse First Boston as potential contracts for the center. During the Secretary's visit, Credit Suisse First Boston announced the first contract, development of pilot software to facilitate electronic banking and e-commerce, with the Open Computing Center. The Open Computing Center and the Sarov Technopark at Avangard are part of the Energy Department's Nuclear Cities Initiative. This cooperative program was launched by Secretary Richardson and Minister Adamov in September 1998. The goal of the program is to create jobs for displaced nuclear weapons workers as Russia consolidates its nuclear weapons complex. Investment in Russia's closed cities is a key goal of the Nuclear Cities Initiative. With Congressional approval of the Energy Department's fiscal year 2001 budget request, the department will direct at least $7 million of funding to Sarov next year. Investment in Sarov will be increased further through other Energy Department programs, such as the Initiatives for Proliferation Prevention, and through significant contributions from private companies, such as Fresenius and Motorola. Secretary Richardson will travel to Vladivostok, Russia, Thursday, to meet with government and Navy officials. He will also attend a commissioning ceremony marking the completion of security upgrades for nuclear materials at two naval sites. The upgrades were designed by the U.S. Department of Energy. He visits Sakhalin Island on Saturday to tour an oil platform. (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov) Return to the Washington File