Kazakhstan may have relinquished its arsenal of nuclear weapons after the collapse of the Soviet Union, but it is seeking to expand its role in a variety of atomic energy-related fields. The country hopes to outstrip rivals Canada and Australia next year to become the world’s biggest uranium producer.
Russian Federation
Astana aims to become world's top uranium producer
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
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Hungarian nuclear plant supplier Ganz Energetika acquired by Russia's Atomenergoprom
Wednesday, August 6, 2008In line with prior agreements, Russian nuclear energy company OAO Atomenergoprom has acquired a controlling interest in Hungary's Ganz Energetika, a manufacturer of fuel-loading equipment and cooling pumps for nuclear power plants, Bloomberg reported.
Once the deal is concluded, Atomenergoprom will hold a 51% stake in Ganz; the value of the transaction was not disclosed. The deal is expected to boost Ganz sales to Russia to nearly EUR 20 million in a year from now, approximately twice the current level.
Italians to build transport vessel for spent nuclear fuel
Friday, August 1, 2008The Russian state company on nuclear energy Rosatom this week signed an agreement with the Italian Ministry of Economic Development over the construction of a vessel for transports of spent nuclear fuel from bases on the Kola Peninsula.
According to Rosatom, the vessel will be financed as a whole by the Italian side. The ship, which is to be built by the company Fincantieri is expected to cost 71,5 million EUR.
”Murmansk” wreckage is radioactive
Friday, August 1, 2008
The wreckage of the old Russian cruiser “Murmansk” has been stranded outside to coast of Finnmark in northern Norway for 15 years. Recent investigation has revealed that there is radioactive substances inside the ship.
Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten printed the story about radioactive “Murmansk” last Friday, and it has led to a massive national media attention in Norway on the environmental hazard it seems to represent.
Russia, EU to handle nuclear quotas in September
Tuesday, July 29, 2008Russia and the European Union will embark on a new round of negotiations to lift hidden quotas on Russia's nuclear exports in September 2008 during the Russia-EU summit, the head of Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom, Sergei Kiriyenko, said today. He reiterated that the two sides were currently negotiating a new cooperation agreement. In addition, the EU presidency is currently held by France, Europe's largest nuclear power producer and consumer. It's time to step up talks on the matter, Kiriyenko noted.
Putin takes look at technology of nuclear fuel production for nuclear power plants
Tuesday, July 29, 2008ELEKTROSTAL, July 29 (Itar-Tass) -- Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has taken a look at technology of nuclear fuel production for nuclear power plants during his visit to the machine-building plant Elemash on Tuesday.
He was shown the whole technological chain – from production of “nuclear tablets” to heat clusters.
The plant’s director general Oleg Kryukov said “this is wholly our production - design, software and drawings; we buy parts abroad”.
Envoy turned away from Russian nuclear facility
Friday, July 25, 2008MOSCOW (Reuters) - The British ambassador to Moscow and two of his diplomats were refused entry to a UK-funded nuclear fuel storage facility in Russia when they turned up on a scheduled visit, an embassy spokesman said on Friday.
Ambassador Anthony Brenton was in the Arctic port of Murmansk on Thursday to visit a British navy ship that was there to take part in a Russian Naval Day celebration.
Reactor got another 10 years
Monday, July 21, 2008The 35 year old reactor at the Kola Nuclear Power Plant last week got the authorities’ blessing for another ten years of service.
The reactor is the oldest of the four reactors at the Kola NPP, Russia’s northernmost nuclear power plant. According to Rosatom, the company which is running all of Russia's nine NPPs, the reactor will now produce power until year 2018.
Bulgaria sends uranium fuel to Russia
Monday, July 21, 2008WASHINGTON -- Bulgaria has sent its remaining highly enriched uranium to Russia for safeguarding from terrorist or other potential misuse.
Nearly 14 pounds of the spent fuel were received Thursday at a Russian nuclear facility, the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration announced. A first shipment of 37.3 pounds of fresh uranium fuel was sent to Russia in December 2003.
Kola NPP marks 35 years anniversary
Monday, June 30, 2008On June 27th, 1973, reactor No. 1 at the first nuclear power plant ever built north of the Arctic Circle was started. It was designed for a life-time of 30 years, but is still in operation.
Later in the 70ties and early 80 another three reactors was put into operation at the Kola nuclear power plant (Kola NPP).
