Russian Nuclear Security Update #22
Completed nuclear subs decommissioning in the Far East; PP training at Akkuyu NPP; nuclear smuggling prevention; certification of PP effectiveness evaluation software; uranium export ban for the US
Rosatom celebrates completion of the nuclear submarines decommissioning at Russian Far East, disregards international assistance
September 11, 2024
Rosatom completed the decommissioning of retired nuclear submarines in the Russian Far East. A total of 82 submarines put out of operation before 2022 were decommissioned. Spent nuclear fuel from decommissioned submarines was removed to Mayak. The article published on the official government website does not mention foreign technical assistance, although decommissioning infrastructure was created within the framework of multilateral international cooperation, and foreign budgets paid for a substantial part of decommissioning and clean-up activities. The picture below shows submarine hull reactor sections placed in long-term storage.
Rosatomtech conducts physical protection training at Akkuyu NPP
September 13, 2024
Rosatom Technical Academy (Rosatomtech) conducted two physical protection training courses for Akkuyu NPP personnel in Turkey. The first course covered PP fundamentals, and the second covered analytical support for PP, including vulnerability assessment and site self-evaluation inspections.
Russia maintains capabilities to prevent nuclear smuggling and regulate cross-border movement of nuclear materials
September 25, 2024
Rostechnadzor Volga Regional Branch and Samara International Airport Customs Office conducted a joint exercise to prevent the smuggling of nuclear materials and radioactive substances. The exercise scenario included responding to the detection of an increased level of radiation in the body of a passenger treated with radiation therapy.
October 25, 2024
Starting October 25, 2024, the Urals Regional Customs Office is assigned with responsibility for the customs declaration of cross-border movement of nuclear materials and radioactive substances for the whole of Russia. Only two customs offices in Russia – Moscow and Urals will provide this service.
The Head of the Urals Office reported that over 9 months of 2024 his office processed over 100 customs declarations to export enriched uranium and various radioactive substances. His team includes 56 officers with special training.
Rostechnadzor starts certification of software for physical protection systems effectiveness evaluation
October 17, 2024
Science and Engineering Center for Nuclear and Radiation Safety/Security (SEC NRS), a Russian nuclear regulatory technical support organization, held a kick-off meeting of the expert panel on the effectiveness evaluation of physical protection systems (PPS EE) for nuclear materials and sites. This expert panel is part of the Rostechnadzor Expert Council on Software Certification. According to the Law on Atomic Energy Use, software for modeling safety- and security-critical processes at nuclear sites is subject to expert review and certification. Rostechnadzor Expert Council is responsible for the software evaluation and certification process.
The requirement for evaluation and certification of PPS EE software was established in the latest revision of Federal Norms and Rules NP-083-23 “Requirements to Physical Protection Systems of Nuclear Materials, Nuclear Facilities, and Nuclear Material Storage Points” that were enacted by Rostechnadzor last December and have been in effect since April 1, 2024.
The kick-off meeting considered an application for evaluation and certification of VEGA-2 software developed by Eleron, the leading Rosatom organization developing physical protection systems for nuclear sites and providing Rosatom with scientific and technical support. VEGA-2 software has long been used for nuclear sites PPS EE in Russia.
Russia limits export of uranium to the United States, extends contract with Slovakia
November 14, 2024
The Russian government has banned uranium exports to the United States under general licenses. Only exports under individual licenses, which must be issued for each shipment, will be possible. TENEX, Rosatom’s uranium export company, informed its American counterpart Centrus that this ban would affect all the shipments remaining in 2024. TENEX plans to seek individual licenses, but timely shipments are not guaranteed.
November 19, 2024
At the same time, Slovakia extended the contract for the supply of Russian nuclear fuel to its Russian-built NPPs through 2030.