G8 Global Partnership in the field of security and non proliferation : Using the excess weapon grade Plutonium to produce energy

29Apr
2003

Speaker: Mr Michael Guhin, Ambassador, US fissile material Negotiator, Department of State, U.S.A

The Commission’s views were expressed by Mr Marc Deffrennes, DG RELEX, Head of the Non-proliferation and disarmament Section (Weapons of Mass destruction).
  
Since the end of the Cold War, the issue of non-proliferation and disarmament is receiving more and more attention. In that context, a “Global Partnership in the field of security and non proliferation” launched at the G8 Summit in Kananaskis in 2002, has set a framework for financing nuclear, chemical and biological actions in the decade to come. On the nuclear side, a USA-Russia agreement was signed in 2000, each party agreeing to simultaneously dispose of 34 tonnes of weapon grade Plutonium in excess of use. Just a few months before the decisive G8 Summit in Evian (France) which was held in June 2003, this dinner-debate was a good opportunity to review today’s situation on the management of this material, and to stress the importance for the European Union to take part in the process.

In order to get better understanding of this highly political and sensitive issue, Mr Guhin set out his views on the situation:
• What are the technical solutions now considered? 
• How will these projects be financed? 
• What are the main next important steps forecasted?

See also : Russia: Fissile Material Production and Disposition, from the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI)

Extra News from the IAEA Press Review:

The United States has made substantial progress on a long-delayed project to dispose of 68 tons of Russian and U.S. weapons-grade nuclear fuel and expects to conclude a multinational accord with $1 billion in financing by year’s end (23/04/2003) -Reuters Item-
When the Russian Duma finally ratifies the Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty (SORT), will it mark the beginning of a new era of bilateral cooperation between Washington and Moscow or the closing chapter in arms control negotiations between Russia and the United States that sought to regulate the Cold War? (23/04/2003) -Arms Control Today-