Strengthening Long-Term Nuclear Security: Protecting Weapon-Usable Material in Russia (2006)

1993

• Signing of agreement on nuclear materials protection, control, and accounting (MPC&A) by the Russian Ministry of Atomic Energy (Minatom) and the U.S. Department of Defense, September 2, 1993

1994

• Start of cooperation at the Machine Building Plant (Elektrostal)

• Start of interlaboratory program: All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Experimental Physics (VNIIEF, Sarov), All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Automatics (VNIIA, Moscow), Bochvar All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Inorganic Materials (VNIINM, Moscow), Institute of Physics and Power Engineering (IPPE, Obninsk), and Eleron (Moscow)

• Start of efforts to provide equipment and methodological support for nuclear material accounting and control (VNIIA, VNIINM, IPPE, VNIIEF)

1995

• Start of cooperation at the Mayak Production Association (Ozersk), Luch Production Association (NPO Luch, Podolsk), Scientific Research Insti-

tute of Atomic Reactors (NIIAR, Dimitrovgrad), All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Technical Physics (VNIITF, Snezhinsk), and Siberian Chemical Combine (Seversk)

• Start of project for personnel training and skill enhancement (Methodological and Training Center for Nuclear Materials Accounting and Control, Interdepartmental Special Training Center, Obninsk)

• Start of work on safe transport of nuclear materials and creation of automated security system for transporters of nuclear materials (Eleron, Design Bureau for Auto Transport Equipment)

1996

• Start of project on Federal Information System for Nuclear Materials Accounting and Control (Minatom Central Scientific Research Institute of Management, Economics, and Information)

• Start of cooperation at the Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant, Radium Institute (St. Petersburg), Beloyarsk Nuclear Power Plant (Zarechny), Urals Electrochemical Integrated Plant (Novouralsk), Mining and Chemical Combine (Zheleznogorsk), Scientific Research and Design Institute of Power Technology (NIKIET, Moscow), Siberian Branch of NIKIET (Zarechny), Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Physics (ITEP, Moscow), and Electrochemical Plant (Zelenogorsk)

• Organization of joint exposition at the press center of the G-8 summit on nuclear security (House of Unions, Moscow)

1997

• Start of cooperation at Scientific Research Institute for Instruments (Lytkarino)

• Start of project on standard samples for nondestructive measurement methods (VNIINM)

• Joint tests of a trial version of the automated security system for transporters of nuclear materials on the Moscow-Yekaterinburg-Moscow route

• Start of work to improve the radio communications system to enhance physical security systems at facilities

• First Russian international conference on MPC&A (Obninsk)

1998

• Start of project on the regulatory base for MPC&A

• Official opening ceremony for the Methodological and Training Center for Nuclear Materials Accounting and Control (IPPE)

• Completion of main phase of work to modernize MPC&A systems at NIKIET, Siberian Branch of NIKIET, Beloyarsk Nuclear Power Plant, and ITEP

1999

• Signing of Russian-U.S. intergovernmental agreement on MPC&A, October 2, 1999

• Start of work on nuclear materials consolidation and conversion at NPO Luch and NIIAR

• Start of work on improving the effectiveness of department-run security at Minatom facilities

2000

• First Joint Coordinating Committee meeting (July 13-14, 2000, Moscow)

• Establishment of objectives for joint work under the intergovernmental agreement

• Reaching of agreement on development of a plan of joint actions in the long term

• Start of work on creation of a civilian plutonium registry

• Second Russian international conference on MPC&A (Obninsk)

2001

• Second Joint Coordinating Committee meeting (April 17-19, 2001, London)

• Preparation of first draft of joint plan (Minatom-U.S. Department of Energy [DOE]) for long-term cooperation on MPC&A for 2001-2010

• Signing of Memorandum on questions of access to Minatom facilities by DOE representatives

• Start of work to support departmental control (inspection and oversight) by Minatom in the field of MPC&A

2002

• Third Joint Coordinating Committee meeting (July 23-25, 2002, St. Petersburg)

• Signing of provisional procedures for the exchange of confidential information between Minatom and DOE in the course of efforts carried out under the Agreement

2003

• Fourth Joint Coordinating Committee meeting (July 30-August 1, 2003, Vienna)

• Start of work to ensure the security of radioactive sources under the MPC&A agreement (All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Technical Physics and Automation, Izotop)

• Start of work to improve the sustainable development of modernized MPC&A systems by enhancing the infrastructure at Minatom facilities

2004

• Fifth Joint Coordinating Committee meeting (August 3-5, 2004, St. Petersburg)

• Start of work on MPC&A Operations Monitoring System project

• Completion of main phase of work to modernize MPC&A systems at the Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant

2005

• Sixth Joint Coordinating Committee meeting (February 1-3, 2005, Paris)

• Signing of plan for joint actions by Minatom and DOE within the framework of cooperation on MPC&A for the period 2005-2012

• Third Russian international conference on MPC&A (Obninsk)