Russia to Build Another Train for Nuke-waste Transport

The Associated Press reported on August 26 that Russia is building a new cargo train for transporting nuclear waste. The work was recounted as an attempt to cope with the large volumes of radioactive materials that must be removed from temporary storage.

Russia has only one special train for transporting nuclear waste, according Nuclear Power Ministry spokesperson

Norway is financing the U.S.$2 million construction, the ITAR-Tass news agency reported, citing Deputy Nuclear Power Minister Nikolai Yegorov. The train's completion is expected during 1999, it added.

The U.S. plans to finance the dismantling of two nuclear submarines decommissioned from Russia's Northern Fleet, ITAR-Tass said.

Yegorov has said that the more than 150 deactivated submarines hold in excess of 80 metric tons of spent nuclear fuel in Russia's north. The government lacks the estimated $1.5 billion needed to scrap the subs or improve radiation safety, according to AP's report.

AP's report also said that Russia has agreed to dismantle 100 of its submarines by 2000, but the deadline is seen as wildly unrealistic, given the country's financial problems.