Russia Destroys More Than 70 Metric Tons of Lewisite

Russia has destroyed more than 70 metric tons of lewisite at a chemical weapons disposal plant located near the town of Gorny in the Saratov region, ITAR-Tass reported Saturday (see GSN, June 1).  

The Gorny facility halted operations last week for planned repairs, according to ITAR-Tass. Plant technicians are working to develop means of disposing of reaction masses created during the recycling process, which are now kept in temporary storage facilities. One proposed option has been to destroy the masses at a facility constructed with German aid, ITAR-Tass reported (ITAR-Tass I, July 17).

In addition, a chemical weapons disposal facility being built near the city of Kambarka is set to become operational by the end of next year, according to ITAR-Tass. The plant would allow the 6,300 metric tons of lewisite in storage in Kambarka to be destroyed without transporting the material to other regions, ITAR-Tass reported (ITAR-Tass II, July 17).

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