DHAKA: Current progress and prospects of Russia-US cooperation in the field of energy was reviewed in a recent meeting, held in Washington DC, between Sergei Kirienko, Director General of Russia’s State Corporation-Rosatom and E Moniz, US Secretary of Energy.

The issues like nuclear research, commercial interaction, nuclear safety and nuclear non proliferation were discussed in the meeting.

Both the sides noted with satisfaction the successful completion of HEU (High Enriched Uranium) deal, popularly known as Megaton to Megawatt programme.

Under the agreement, Russia supplied Low Enriched Uranium (LEU) to USA for subsequent processing and delivery to commercial consumers for use in nuclear reactors.

Under a separate agreement 500 tons of HEU from Russian nuclear warheads, which is equivalent to 20,000 nuclear charges has been recycled by Russia and delivered to USA for use in their nuclear reactors.

Three areas of bi-lateral cooperation within the frame work of Russia-US agreement were mainly discussed in the meeting.

These include, research and development in the field of nuclear energy, multi-lateral nuclear environmental programe in Russia, return of highly enriched nuclear fuel by Russia and USA from third countries.

As decided, the fifth meeting of the working group on nuclear energy and nuclear security of the Russia-US Presidential Commission to be held in 2014 in Moscow.

BDST: 1620 HRS, DEC 21, 2013
Edited by: M. Mahbub Alam, Asst Output Editor