LOCATION: Address: Angarsk, Irkutsk Oblast
HOMEPAGE: http://www.aecc.ru/{Entered 8/10/2001 ES} SUBORDINATION: Federal Atomic Energy Agency [Angarsk Electrolytic Chemical Combine Web Site: http://www.aecc.ru.]
{Entered 8/10/2001 ES} STRUCTURE: AEKhK consists of four major facilities: the Enrichment
Plant, Uranium Hexafluoride Conversion Plant,
Instrumentation Plant, and Central Laboratory, plus a repair and machine shop
and a number of other
subdivisions, including a thermal power plant.[1,2,3]
Sources: [1] Nuclear Business Directory,
Moscow, 1995, p. 77.
[2] V. Shopen, "Podvig sibirskikh atomshchikov
na Angare," Atompressa, No. 37 (237), October 1997, pp. 1,2.{Entered
5/21/99 VT} [3] Angarsk Electrolytic Chemical Combine Web Site: http://www.aecc.ru.
{Updated 8/10/2001 ES} ACTIVITIES: Founded in 1954, the AEKhK produces and enriches UF6 for nuclear fuel.[1]
On 21 October 1957, 308 gas diffusion machines were
put into operation and started the process of continuous uranium enrichment.
The first lot of enriched uranium was produced on 28 October 1957. In 1963,
construction was completed and the combine started operation in full. The
UF6 conversion plant, which was built parallel to the gas diffusion plant,
produced its first lot on 29 October 1960 and started functioning at full
capacity by the end of 1962. Leading research institutions, such as the
All-Russian Scientific Research Institute
of Chemical Technology (VNIIKhT), the All-Russian
Institute of Energy Technology (VNIPIET), the Mendeleyev
Moscow Chemical-Technological Institute (now Mendeleyev Russian Chemical-Technological
University), the Research Institute of Chemical Machine Building, "Sibakademproyekt,"
the Central Design
Bureau for Machine Building (CDBMB) and the Experimental
Machine Building Design Bureau (OKBM), were involved in the development
and creation of the new equipment. The prime objective was to "expand the
arsenal" of the Soviet military. During a period of reconstruction from
1962-1985, new equipment was installed, which increased the productivity
of the gas diffusion plant two to three times, and increased the productivity
of the chemical plant by almost five times. In the 1980s, the production
of highly-enriched uranium was stopped and AEKhK switched to uranium enrichment
for the nuclear power industry (enriched up to 5% U-235). Several
sources indicate that the Angarsk Combine, being a uranium enrichment facility, has
never been involved in the production of weapons-grade uranium.[5,6]
In 1990, the combine began operating its
first two gas centrifuges, and in 1992 the last gas diffusion machine was
stopped.[3] NEI's World Nuclear Industry Handbook 1995 lists AEKhK's
annual conversion capacity as 18,700 MT of uranium. AEKhK produces LEU using centrifuge technology, with an annual capacity of two million SWU.[2]
Trade relations with foreign partners (established in the 1980s thanks
to close cooperation with the Department of nuclear-chemical production
and Tekhsnabeksport) expanded
to new markets in the 1990s. Exports have been important in promoting growth
and stability at AEKhK.[3] Overall, 50% of
the Combine's output is produced for export.[4]
AEKhK exports enriched uranium to the United States,
United Kingdom,
Germany, Finland, France,China, the Republic of Korea, and other
countries. The combine's employees are participating in
the construction of a gas
centrifuge plant in China. A special design and technology department
is in charge of developing new technologies. AEKhK is also involved in
civilian production. It manufactures individual dosimeter systems; professional
gamma radiation dosimeters; extra pure lithium, barium, calcium and lanthanum
fluorides; and optical and scintillating fluoride monocrystals.[3] AEKkK
employs approximately 6,500 people.[4]
Sources: [1] Nuclear Business Directory,
Moscow, 1995, p. 77. [2] "World Nuclear Industry Handbook
1995," Nuclear Engineering International, pp.122-123 [3] V. Shopen, "Podvig sibirskikh atomshchikov
na Angare," Atompressa, No. 37 (237), October 1997, pp. 1,2. {Entered
5/21/99 VT} [4] Angarsk Electrolytic
Chemical Combine Web Site: http://www.aecc.ru. [5] Pavel
Podvig, ed., Strategicheskoye yadernoye vooruzheniye Rossii (Moscow,
IzdAT, 1998), pp. 73. [6] Oleg
Bukharin, "Downsizing Russia's Nuclear Warhead Production
Infrastructure," Nonproliferation Review, Vol. 8, No. 1,
Spring 2000, pp.116-130.{Updated 8/10/2001 ES}
Fissile Material Production and Disposition
To return to the main
enrichment entry, see the
