Russian Nuclear Security Update #16
Rosatom's cybersec conference; nuclear smuggling drills; new nuclear service ship; sanctions affect new construction; Sarov is net tax donor; 12th GUMO training; TVEL remakes Marc Chagall
Rosatom holds its annual cybersecurity conference
June 24, 2024
Institute of the Global Nuclear Security and Physical Protection (IGNSPP), a division of Rosatom Technical Academy, hosted an annual Rosatom Information Security Conference 2024 in the Rosatomtech St.Petersburg branch from June 17 to 21. 500 cybersecurity managers and experts from 137 Rosatom organizations and 55 vendors attended the Conference. IGNSPP is Rosatom’s primary physical protection training center, which was established with substantial US financial and technical support within the US-Russian nuclear security cooperation framework.
Regional customs train to respond to nuclear smuggling
June 27-28, 2024
Rostov-on-Don and Murmask Ports’ customs offices conducted drills to respond to the smuggling of nuclear materials. Drill scenarios included the detection of radioactive material. In the Murmansk scenario, nuclear material was hidden under the cargo of mineral fertilizer with a high natural level of radioactivity. Drills were aimed at practicing interactions between authorities responsible for nuclear smuggling response. In addition to customs, the following agencies were involved: Rosatom’s Emergency Response Technical Center, Border Control Service, law enforcement, and emergency response authorities.
A new nuclear service ship is under construction
July 1, 2024
Baltic Shipyard started construction of the new “nuclear service ship,” which is used to reload fuel of nuclear-powered icebreakers and other surface ships and transport radioactive waste. The new ship is planned for commissioning by 2029 and is intended to replace the “Imandra” nuclear service ship, which has been in operation since 1980.
Sanctions affect Rosatom projects in Russia and abroad
While Rosatom has so far managed to escape serious sanctions, there is growing evidence that the sanctions affect its projects in Russia and abroad.
Siemens terminated the supply of equipment for Akkuyu NPP. Replacement equipment is ordered in China.
Chinese Wison New Energies terminated the supply of vessels for a new floating nuclear power plant constructed to provide power to a prospective mining and ore processing site in Chukotka.
Kazakhstan discusses potential sanctions against Rosatom with the European Union in preparation for the selection of the contractor for the first nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan
At the same time, the European Union waived sanctions for the construction of Paks-2 NPP in Hungary.
Rosatom’s nuclear city is a net tax donor
June 21, 2024
The Mayor of Sarov, a closed city hosting VNIIEF, Rosatom’s nuclear weapons R&D center, stated in his interview that Sarov is a net tax donor, paying more taxes to regional and federal budgets than receiving subsidies. He claims, however, that the city needs an extra 1,5-2 billion rubles ($17-23 million) annually for “satisfactory maintenance” and even more for development. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the financial situation in closed nuclear cities was a reason for strong concerns, prompting fears about weapons scientists selling their expertise to rogue states or non-state actors.
12th GUMO trains to protect its sites
June 27, 2024
12th GUMO, the Russian Ministry of Defense organization in charge of maintaining nuclear weapons not mounted on delivery vehicles, conducted training on the organization of protection and defense of “controlled sites” for chief engineers and access management heads. Topics covered during the training included measures to prevent intruder access to protected areas and procedures for equipping sites with additional protection means.
TVEL’s remake of Mark Chagall’s masterpiece pictures theft (or a new approach to shipping) of a nuclear fuel assembly
July 2, 2024
