Russian Nuclear Security Update #20
Effect of sanctions; cutting security costs through consolidation; security service training center for Akkuyu; IT support to MC&A reporting; PP training infrastructure development
Effect of sanctions on Russian nuclear industry: Akkuyu NPP commissioning is delayed while the share of Russian uranium in the EU grows.
According to Turkiye’s minister of energy and natural resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, the start of operation of the first unit of Akkuyu NPP built by Rosatom might be delayed due to problems with the supply of Siemens equipment from Germany. Changing suppliers takes time, and this may affect the start of operation.
According to the Annual Report of the Euratom Supply Agency, supplies of natural uranium, as well as conversion and enrichment services from Russia to the European Union in 2023, grew both in terms of absolute quantities and in terms of market share. However, the Report notes that “the increase should not be read as an indication of a trend or heightened EU dependency on Russian supplies.” Instead, it is a side effect of intensified efforts to diversify supplies and decrease dependency on Russia. The Report provides an overview of diversification efforts.
Rosatom Service, Rosatom’s company that provides technical maintenance services to Russian-built nuclear power plants abroad, announced the procurement of spare parts for the primary coolant pumps of Temelin and Dukovany NPPs in the Czech Republic. Spare parts must be supplied within 10-14 months after signing the contract. This is evidence of continuing maintenance performed by Rosatom at NPPs in the European Union.
Russian nuclear fuel manufacturer to cut security costs through selling unneeded property.
August 15, 2024
Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant (NCCP), one of Russia’s nuclear fuel manufacturing plants, dropped the idea of repurposing property that was vacated after the consolidation of nuclear fuel production in fewer facilities. Initially, this property was planned to be leased to new non-nuclear businesses. However, the decision has now been made to sell it. According to Natalya Nikipelova, President of TVEL, an umbrella company for NCCP, one of the reasons for this was the expected reduction of security costs.
Rosatom will start the construction of a security service training center at Akkuyu NPP.
August 19, 2024
Akkuyu NPP awarded the contract for preparatory groundworks for the Security Service Training Center at Akkuyu NPP. These works must be completed before the end of 2025.
Rosenergoatom awarded the contract to support the MC&A information system.
August 19, 2024
Rosenergoatom, which manages all Russian nuclear power plants, awarded the contract for maintaining the information system for preparing nuclear materials reports to the Federal Information System. This information system covers all Russian NPPs and Rosenergoatom Headquarters.
Rosatom Technical Academy will establish a Multifunctional Physical Protection Center.
August 27, 2024
According to Yury Seleznev, the rector of Rosatom Technical Academy (Rosatomtech), Rosatomtech will establish a “Multifunctional Physical Protection Center” in the second half of 2024 and continue developing a nuclear security training infrastructure. Rosatomtech succeeded the Interdepartmental Special Training Center (ISTC) established in Obninsk in the early 1990s to train physical protection personnel for nuclear sites. The U.S. provided substantial funding and technical support to develop ISTC infrastructure under the U.S.-Russian nuclear security cooperation.