Japan Supplied Russia with Submarine Reactor Storage Facilities

18.05.2012 Japanese equipment used for written-off submarine nuclear reactor storage was delivered to Russia's Far East Radioactive Waste Handling Center. According to RIA Novosti, such storage facility will be founded in the Razboynik Bay; radioactive elements of Pacific Fleet (PF) nuclear submarines will be stored there.

Reportedly, Japan handed over seagoing tug Sumire, two overhead gantry cranes with lifting capacity of 10 and 30 tons, and floating dock Sakura with displacement of 3,500 tons. Representatives of Japanese foreign ministry, Russian Rosatom and RosRAO took part in the handover ceremony. Delivery of the hardware was carried out under Russo-Japanese intergovernmental agreement.

Estimated construction cost of the nuclear waste storage center makes somewhat $80 bln. According to various sources, about 8 reactor blocks of decommissioned nuclear submarines are currently stored in the bay, including the reactor block of K-431 submarine.

Through recent 20 years, Japan has been actively participating in international nuclear submarine utilization programs in Pacific region. Early in 90's, Japan transferred $25 mln to Russia for construction of Landysh floating plant disposing radioactive effluents from written-off nuclear subs.

In mid-March 2010, Zvezda shipyard had completed utilization of five decommissioned PF nuclear submarines. The dismantling was carried out under joint Russo-Japanese program Star of Hope fully financed by Japan. Four subs were dismantled at Zvezda, and the fifth one – on Kamchatka.

At present, utilization cost of one nuclear submarine in Russia varies from $7 mln to $15 mln depending of the sub's type.

As is expected, another international submarine utilization program named Global Partnership is to be completed in Russia through 2012. It is financed by the US, Canada, Japan, and some Western European countries. Russian shipyards Zvezda and Zvezdochka are engaged in this program and dismantle submarines.