Year
2003
Abstract
To reduce the theft and proliferation risks of special nuclear material (SNM), the Luch facility began development and implementation of a variety of coordinated approaches in 1993. These intensive activities have continued to be modified and expanded as needed to protect the related materials. The long-term sustainability of the necessary SNM protection systems can be extremely difficult and complex even after initial implementation of the appropriate upgrades. Some of the complexity is caused by the extensive quantities of inventories located in a large number of separated areas and facilities. Likewise, to protect all these various locations would multiply the funding necessary to adequately maintain the protection systems. As an alternative to traditional protective measures, the HEU consolidation and conversion activity at Luch has resulted in reduction of the number of buildings containing SNM from 17 to 4. This endeavor has similarly reduced HEU stockpiles and the associated proliferation risks for not only Luch’s SNM inventory but the inventories of other sites in the region. As of the beginning of this year, over 2 metric tons of HEU have been converted, no longer subject to the same proliferation threats. The evolution of this process has led to Luch’s current capability to annually convert over 700 kg of U-235 in highly attractive material. The establishment and expansion of this Materials Consolidation and Conversion Project (MCC) at Luch is within the framework of joint programs approved by the RF MinAtom and the US DOE to reduce proliferation risks. This approach to nonproliferation and theft prevention has proved to be effective for the 2 tons of HEU already converted and plans are to continue with annual contract renewal. Presented and discussed with this paper are Luch’s approaches to development and implementation of the MCC, the lessons learned, and the achievements.