Nuclear Safety

Russia is going to scrap two of its three remaining Typhoon-class nuclear-powered submarines, the legendary symbol of Soviet military power in the Cold War-era.

Heavily armed forces guard the weapon-grade uranium from terrorists before departure, but such potentially deadly cargo can continue to be shipped northbound towards Murmansk when Norway’s radiation watchdog is sleeping.

The danger that terrorists could get their hands on nuclear material forced authorities to keep secret about last week’s shipment towards Murmansk.

Russia’s nuclear-powered icebreaker “Taimyr” is back in service after one year of repairs. Last year the vessel had a leakage in one of the steam generators – the year before that in the cooling water system.

Ageing reactor at Kola nuclear power plant was last night again switched off network after a failure in a transformer.

Italian financed vessel “Rossita” should assist Russia with transport of highly radioactive spent nuclear fuel from run-down coastal storages. Two years after delivery, the vessel has still not transported anything. Now, she goes for repair.

Russia’s most militarized waters need several improvements for safe shipping of nuclear material.

In 2009, Yevgeny Yevstratov proudly showed State Secretary Elisabeth Walaas the reactors from the submarines Norway had granted hundreds of millions for decommissioning. Today, he is accused of massive budget misappropriation.

After 20 years of cooperation on nuclear safety, the days could be counted for the Nunn-Lugar program. The program, which the United States funds with some $500 million annually, has been a key source for scrapping of nuclear subs and withdrawal of nuclear weapons from Barents Russia.