INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER

Project # 245 "Radleg"

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8. NUCLEAR WEAPON PRODUCTION

The main enterprises of the Minatom of RF, related to nuclear weapons production:

  • the “Elektrokhimpribor” Combine, Lesnoy, Sverdlovsk Region;
  • the Industrial Association “Start”, Zarechny, Penza Region;
  • the Instrument Engineering Plant, Trekhgorny, Chelyabinsk Region;
  • the Electromechanical Plant “Avangard”, Sarov, Nizhny-Novgorod Region.

As of 01.01.97 the total amount of solid radioactive wastes (RW), accumulated at the enterprises of nuclear weapons production complex, was 4301 m3 and their total activity - 4,07x106 Bq, the total amount of waste waters - 2546 m3, and their total activity -1,9x106 Bq (waste waters with radionuclide contents lower than the DCB are not related to the category of liquid radioactive wastes). The data on RW accumulation in separate enterprises are presented in Table 8.1. The main type storage facilities are reinforced concrete tanks.

Radionuclides releases into the environment by the enterprises of nuclear weapons production complex are insignificant (less than 1 percent of maximum permissible values). For the entire time period of operation of the enterprises there were no incidents, that might lead to radioactive contamination of the environment.

In the future, enlargement of RW storage facilities is planned at all enterprises of the nuclear weapons production complex. The data on the planned increase of volumes of solid and liquid RW storage facilities at the separate enterprises till 2000 are presented in Table 8.2.


Table 8.1

The accumulated radioactive wastes at the nuclear weapons production complex enterprises of the Minatom of RF, on 01.01.97

No. Enterprise Solid RW Waste waters
Volume, m3 Total activity, Characteris tic of storage facilities Volume, m3 Total activity, Characteris tic of storage facilities
Date of putting into operation Volume, m3 Level of filling, % Date of putting into operation Volume, m3 Level of filling, %
1 “Elektrokhim-pribor” Combine 1053 1.1x10 6 1983 2633 40 586 9.6x105 1983 690 85
2 IA “Start“ 556 7.4x10-5 1982 696 80 - - - - -
3 Instrument Engineering Plant 1728 1.1x10 6 1981 2160 80 1960 9.6x10-5 1981 2450 80
4 Electromechanical Plant “Avangard” 964 1.1x10 6 1983 1378 70 - - - - -

Table 8.2

The planned increase of volumes of RW storage facilities at the enterprises of nuclear weapons production complex till 2000

No. Enterprises Additional volumes of storage facilities, m3
Solid RW Liquid RW
1 “Elektrokhimpribor” Combine 4000 2100
2 IA “Start” 700 -
3 Instrument Engineering Plant 2800 1500
4 Electromechanical Plant “Avangard” 2700 -

All the data presented in this Chapter are taken from the annual statistical accounting materials of the Minatom of RF.

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