Bochvar All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Inorganic Matierals (VNIINM)
The A.A. Bochvar All-Russian Scientific Research Institute for Inorganic Materials in Moscow was founded in 1945 to address materials science and technology problems relevant to nuclear weapon developments. Over time the Institute, while remaining part of the MINATOM defense complex, has expanded its work to include peaceful uses of nuclear energy, design of fuel, radioactive and structural materials as well as production technologies. With a staff of 1500 persons, it is one of the leading Russian centers working on new non-organic materials, technology and production equipment.
In late 1997 a joint US-Russia test program on burning surplus weapons plutonium as MOX fuel in Candu reactors was initiated with a contract for MOX fuel pellet manufacture by the Bochvar plant in Russia and Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd (AECL).
The Bochvar Institute is working with US counterparts to develope a soil-washing technology that removes radioactive materials from soil. This project is being accomplished through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement that includes Lockheed Martin Energy Systems and Soiltech Environmental Systems in New York, with funding provided from the US Department of Energy (DOE) through the U.S. Industry Coalition.
In 1997, the Bochvar Institute was responsible for analysis by of weapon-grade plutonium confiscated in August 1994 at Munich airport during an attempted smuggling of the material from Moscow to Munich. The batch of plutonium was examined with technologies that make it possible to identify the country of the manufacturer and the manufacturer itself. The conclusion was that the plutonium was of non-Russian origin.
Sources and Methods
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
