USEC Reports 9,000 Nuclear Warheads Permanently Eliminated

NUKEWARS

File image of a former Soviet ICBM silo in Ukraine

Bethesda MD (SPX) Oct 06, 2004
USEC announced Tuesday that 225 metric tons of Russian weapons-grade uranium, the equivalent of 9,000 nuclear warheads, has been recycled into fuel purchased by USEC for use in America's nuclear power plants.

Acting as executive agents for the U.S. and Russian governments, USEC and Techsnabexport (TENEX) commercially implement this program, known as Megatons to Megawatts, at no cost to their governments.

The program will recycle 500 metric tons of bomb-grade uranium into fuel by its conclusion in 2013. Approximately ten percent of America's electricity is produced using Megatons to Megawatts fuel.

By using the weapons-derived fuel in nuclear power plants, the program permanently eliminates this excess Russian warhead material while providing clean, emissions-free electricity for homes, businesses, hospitals and schools in the United States.

Once blended down to low-enriched uranium fuel, the material is no longer usable in a nuclear weapon. USEC purchases approximately $450 million of the fuel annually.

Russia uses that money to support nuclear safety, environmental and security programs. To date, USEC has paid the Russian treasury over $3.5 billion for purchases of the fuel. By the program's end, total purchases from Russia will be approximately $8 billion.

"The Megatons to Megawatts program is one of the most successful nonproliferation efforts worldwide," said USEC President and CEO William H. Timbers.

"We are proud of our excellent working relationship with Russia and the fact that Soviet-era nuclear warheads once aimed at American cities are now lighting and powering our country from coast to coast."

NUKEWARS

Successful Minuteman 3 Launch

Vandenberg AFB (SPX) Sep 20, 2004
An unarmed Minuteman 3 intercontinental ballistic missile was successfully launched from North Vandenberg at 1:01 a.m. September 15.