OREANDA-NEWS. April 28, 2010. Head of Rosatom Sergey Kirienko estimates plutonium utilization program as 2.5 to 3 billion dollars. In the framework of nuclear safety summit in Washington, head of MFA RF Sergey Lavrov and State Secretary of USA Hillary Clinton signed protocol to agreement of 2000 year on utilization of plutonium declared as plutonium no longer necessary for purposes of defense, handing of it and cooperation in this sphere.

USA and Russia are obliged to utilize 34 tons of excessive arms-grade plutonium each. According to the protocol, the Americans party will appropriate up to 400 million dollars as contribution into the Russian program. "it is a large-scale program. We spend much money for it. According to the agreement, Americans add 400 million dollars. Than them for it, but frankly speaking, it is a small part of that Russia pays itself — 2.5 to 3 billion dollars", — said Kirienko to reporters.

According to him, Russia will invest minimum 2.5 billion dollars. "The final cost of the program will become clear in the course of its execution… We estimate it as 2.5 to 3 billion dollars", — said head of Rosatom. At that, noted he, the American contribution of 400 million dollars is taken into account in this amount.

Kirienko considers the signed agreement completely corresponding to interests of Russia — the new document keeps all purposes of framework agreement on plutonium utilization which was signed 10 years ago. According to him, the parties on parity basis will destroy 34 tons of arms-grade plutonium each, and will do it symmetrically, under mutual control.

"It is minimum 17 thousand warheads, if not more. At that, we will be able under supplementary agreement to utilize this plutonium in fast reactors, rather than in light-water ones, that means absolutely other quality and other economic consequences", — said head of "Rosatom". Head of the state corporation said that destruction of plutonium in light-water reactors would not use completely power potential of plutonium and would not be efficient neither from technical nor economic points of view. The new agreement will allow to "resolve the most important disarmament task", not distracting efforts from the main line of work, considers Kirienko. In nuclear power industry Russia places stake right on fast neutron reactors, said he.