How America uses uranium from Russian Cold War nuclear warheads to heat millions of homes

How America uses uranium from Russian Cold War nuclear warheads to heat millions of homes

  • In the last two decades 10 per cent of US electricity was fueled by the decommissioned Russian warheads
  • The Megatons-to-Megawatts programme was agreed in 1993 and has seen 500 tonnes of old warheads converted into electricity
  • Around one in 10 light bulbs have been powered through the scheme in the last 20 years
  • Last shipment reached the Port of Baltimore from St Petersburg this month
  • US Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said programme has been instrumental in the elimination of nuclear weapons left over from the Cold War 

By LIZZIE PARRY

PUBLISHED: 14:40 GMT, 28 December 2013 | UPDATED: 15:58 GMT, 28 December 2013

It is a post-Cold War collaboration between the US and Russia, which has provided heat to millions of homes across America.

But the little-known Megatons-to-Megawatts programme, which has seen 20,000 decommissioned Russian nuclear warheads transformed into nuclear energy in the US, has drawn to a close this month.

The final shipment of low enriched uranium (LEU) was unloaded at the Port of Baltimore in Maryland on December 10 after a four-week journey by sea from St Petersburg.

It was the last of the LEU converted from more than 500 tonnes of highly enriched uranium from the Russian warheads, deactivated under the 1991 START treaty at the end of the Cold War.

The recycling and transfer of the uranium to the US was formalised in a 1993 agreement and has seen hundreds of shipments arrive in the US destined for the country's nuclear reactors.

The programme has supplied nearly 10 per cent of all American electricity and around one in 10 light bulbs powered via the scheme in the last two decades.

The shipment marks the end of the unprecedented programme, which has seen the US pay its former enemy $8billion (£5bn) in the last 20 years.

The four cylinders of LEU was taken from Baltimore to the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Kentucky, where it will be turned into uranium oxide pellets destined for nuclear power plants across the country.

FULL STORY: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2530318/How-America-uses-ur...

Views: 102

Comment

You need to be a member of 12160 Social Network to add comments!

Join 12160 Social Network

"Destroying the New World Order"

TOP CONTENT THIS WEEK

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE SITE!

mobile page

12160.info/m

12160 Administrators

 

Latest Activity

Doc Vega posted a blog post

Following Blindly

When I was born the world seemed so tallPeople didn’t seem so threatening at allFast forward to my…See More
4 hours ago
Sandy posted videos
8 hours ago
Sandy posted a photo
9 hours ago
Sandy commented on Sandy's video
yesterday
Sandy posted a video
yesterday
cheeki kea posted a photo
Wednesday
Burbia posted a video

Strange Videos That Expose Something Massive

#disturbing #video #strange #scary #scaryvideos #strangevideos This is a compilation of the most disturbing videos on the internet, not only...
Wednesday
Doc Vega posted blog posts
Jul 29
Burbia commented on Burbia's video
Jul 29
Burbia posted a video

SUPEROLA & THE LOST BURGERS

This Game is RUBBISH !
Jul 29
pohonemas33 team commented on tjdavis's photo
Thumbnail

DejaVu

"nice very goodjob, i wish you can visit official situs pohonemas33"
Jul 26
Sandy posted a photo
Jul 26
Doc Vega posted a blog post
Jul 25
Saint Quinn favorited Burbia's video
Jul 24
Doc Vega posted blog posts
Jul 24
Burbia commented on tjdavis's blog post The Jewish Couple That Taught Bob Dylan Hebrew and Introduced Him to Zionism
"Haaretz put this story behind a pay wall. Sali Ariel and Terry Noble were the names of the couple…"
Jul 23
William Heckman is now a member of 12160 Social Network
Jul 23
cheeki kea commented on tjdavis's photo
Jul 23
cheeki kea commented on cheeki kea's video
Thumbnail

This Woman DESTROYED Harley-Davidson's Future Forever

"It's a sad day on the highway. But I guess the show must go on. Watch out for the ruination of…"
Jul 23
cheeki kea posted a video

This Woman DESTROYED Harley-Davidson's Future Forever

This Woman DESTROYED Harley-Davidson's Future ForeverWelcome to Ride Radar – Your Frontline Source for Motorcycle Deals, Trends & Market Mayhem.Looking for t...
Jul 23

© 2025   Created by truth.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

content and site copyright 12160.info 2007-2019 - all rights reserved. unless otherwise noted