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US sees dollars in Russian nuclear
technology
By Nikola Krastev
PHILADELPHIA - At a time of growing alarm about
terrorism, weapons of mass destruction and nuclear
proliferation, United States officials are looking to
enlist the ingenuity of former Soviet scientists.
The US Department of Energy last week unveiled a
new approach to its non-proliferation efforts at a
two-day conference in Philadelphia - highlighting
products from the former Soviet Union in need of
matching capital.
The conference featured 140
high-tech products from Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan
for use in a diverse range of industries, including
nuclear reactors, coal, petroleum and gas and hydrogen
technology. Many of the technologies presented have
never before been accessible to US companies.
US
Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham spelled out the
importance of the initiative, called "Partnerships for
Prosperity and Security": "There is no question that
many of these technologies can have wider applications
in the global marketplace. On display are more than 100
high technology products ready for commercialization, in
areas ranging from nuclear fuel and reactor technology
to fuel cells, aerospace and nanotechnology. There are
even several technologies specifically designed to aid
nonproliferation efforts and reduce terrorism threats.
Among these are face-recognition software, portable
diagnostics and chemical and biological detectors."
This technical ingenuity is the product of
entities like the Moscow-based Kurchatov Research
Institute for Nuclear Energy, which during the Cold War
employed more than 10,000 nuclear energy experts and
scientists.
With the demise of the Soviet Union
and the collapse of the planned Soviet economy, a
significant number of these professionals could not find
employment or were forced by necessity to work for
meager salaries. The US was intent from the beginning on
preventing these scientists from accepting employment in
rogue states considered a threat to international peace
and security.
Aleksandr Rumyantsev, Russia's
atomic energy minister, acknowledged at the Philadelphia
conference that there are few opportunities for these
scientists in Russia, especially those employed in the
so-called "closed cities" inaccessible to foreigners. A
Russian nuclear city is a closed territory where nuclear
weapons design and production takes place.
"It's
true, it is definitely a problem for us to determine how
we should transform these unemployed [or underemployed]
scientists for a peaceful, [non-military] working
environment," Rumyantsev said. "Today's exhibit is an
intermediate step, a kind of bridge-crossing between the
military use of nuclear energy and its use for peaceful
and practical purposes for all humankind."
Rumyantsev recalled the experience of the joint
US-Russia Nuclear Cities Initiative, which sought to
provide employment to former military nuclear
specialists.
The development of nuclear arms was
accompanied by the discovery of many new technologies
that at the time were highly secretive. But now, with
the dismantling or reducing of nuclear arms facilities
in both the US and Russia, there is a potential for many
of those innovations to be applied in non-military
fields, such as medicine.
Last week's conference
follows strides in recent months to enhance the energy
dialogue between the US and Russia. Last month, Abraham
participated in the US-Russia Commercial Energy Summit
in St Petersburg, which drew 600 business and government
leaders in energy policy and commerce.
Abraham
told the Philadelphia conference that such efforts are
starting to yield results: "Promoting employment and
economic development opportunities for these individuals
is one of Minister Rumyantsev's and my highest
priorities. And I am proud of the significant resources
which our department has been devoting for creating
peaceful commercial prospects for those individuals. So
far we have witnessed a number of encouraging
developments in these efforts to create jobs and
partnerships for former weapon scientists."
Abraham and Rumyantsev announced at the
conference the first joint venture project between a US
company and a Russian company founded in a closed
nuclear city. The groundbreaking project, which furthers
the non-proliferation efforts of the US Department of
Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration, will
employ former Russian nuclear scientists to manufacture
medical components, equipment and devices in the
formally closed city of Snezhinsk.
The joint
venture - between Numotech Inc, a Northridge, California
medical-devices company, and Spektr-Conversion LLC, a
Russian entrepreneurial start-up - will make
life-changing medical products available to millions of
people worldwide. Projects include a product to prevent
and heal pressure ulcers for those confined to
wheelchairs, and a unique oxygen-bath system for healing
wounds, pressure sores, burns and incisions.
Nearly 100 former employees of the Russian
Federation's All Russian Scientific and Research
Institute for Technical Physics, who previously worked
on the manufacturing and design of nuclear weapons, are
now employed at Spektr-Conversion. The Numotech-Spektr
Conversion joint venture culminates three years of US
government support and is expected to create 433
permanent local jobs.
Part 2 explores in
detail new ventures involving Russian, Kazakh and
Ukrainian partners.
Copyright (c) 2002,
RFE/RL Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio
Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut
Ave NW, Washington DC 20036
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