Russian Nuclear Security Update #18
12th GUMO PP training; effect of sanctions on Russian fuel supplies and MC&A system in Russia; PP training for Ruppur NPP; enruchment plant evaluates PP effectiveness; US-Russian crews fly to space
12th GUMO conducted physical protection equipment training.
July 26, 2924
12th GUMO, the Russian Ministry of Defense organization in charge of maintaining nuclear weapons not mounted on delivery vehicles, conducted training for physical protection equipment personnel. The training was conducted jointly with manufacturers of physical protection equipment. Subject equipment included surveillance systems based on drones, as well as systems for suppression of adversary drones. The training also covered the development of repair and maintenance capabilities.
Effect of sanctions on Russian nuclear fuel sales.
Centrus Energy has received a waiver from the US Department of Energy (DOE) allowing it to import low-enriched uranium from Russia for delivery to US customers in 2024 and 2025. The Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act will go into effect on 11 August, banning the import into the USA of unirradiated, low-enriched uranium (LEU) that is produced in the Russian Federation or by a Russian entity. The waiver process was put in place to ensure US nuclear plants do not experience supply disruptions in the short term, while the country builds up its domestic LEU capacity.
Framatome signed the contract for the supply of the fuel for Soviet-built VVER-440 reactors in Slovakia. The Slovenske Elektrerne’s, utility operating Bohunice and Mochovce NPPs, diversification strategy is to have at least two alternative nuclear fuel suppliers and potential suppliers of materials and services across the nuclear fuel production supply chain. In August 2023, Slovenske Elektrerne signed a long-term agreement with Westinghouse for the licensing and supply of VVER-440 fuel assemblies. The fuel for Slovakian NPPs is currently supplied by Russia. This cooperation affects Slovakia’s position toward European Union sanctions against Russia.
Rosatomtech delivers another physical protection training to Ruppur NPP personnel.
August 2, 2024
Rosatom Technical Academy (Rosatomtech) delivered another three-week physical protection training to Ruppur NPP personnel (I reported about the previous training for Ruppur NPP last week). This course was devoted to administering physical protection systems and was conducted in a Rosatomtech laboratory simulating alarm station equipped with an information collection and processing system connected to sample equipment, including intrusion alarms, video surveillance, and access control systems.
Russian nuclear sites consider using non-OEM spare parts in MC&A equipment repairs.
July 24, 2024
Machine-building Plant (MSZ), a Russian nuclear fuel manufacturer located in Elektrostal near Moscow, announced the procurement of repair services for the two Thermo Fischer Scientific thermal ionization mass spectrometers. Mass spectrometers are essential equipment used for materials control and accounting measurements. Many mass spectrometers made by Western manufacturers were supplied to Russian nuclear sites within the framework of the US-Russian nuclear security cooperation. Due to the market volume, many equipment manufacturers used to have sales and support offices in Russia.
According to the available statement of work, repair should include replacing certain components. The statement of work allows the use of original spare parts or analogs with similar characteristics. The growing willingness to use non-OEM parts is likely due to sanctions and the inability to directly purchase OEM parts. Thermo Fisher Scientific suspended sales in Russia and Belarus in March 2022 following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Russian subsidiary of Thermo Fisher Scientific was liquidated in December 2023.
Uranium enrichment plant to evaluate the effectiveness of physical protection during transportation of nuclear materials.
July 29, 2024
Electrochemical Plant (ECP), a Russian uranium enrichment plant located in Zelenogorsk, Krasnoyarsk Region, announced the procurement of a physical protection effectiveness evaluation (EE) service for the transportation of nuclear materials. EE must be completed within six months after the contract award date, and the price is not to exceed 2705744,39 Russian rubles (approx. $31600 as of the procurement announcement date).
EE is a mandatory procedure that results in a probability of success against an adversary determined during the vulnerability analysis. If the probability is lower than the minimum acceptable level prescribed by the regulation, the physical protection system must be upgraded to achieve the minimum acceptable effectiveness. EE is conducted for each standard transportation of standard cargo and must be updated every time threat and intruder profiles change.
Joint US-Russian crews continue flying to the International Space Station.
This is not exactly a nuclear security topic but rather an example of cooperation in critical areas despite overall animosity. Joint US-Russian crews continue flying to the International Space Station.