Sun 14 March, 2004 20:34
By Nigel Hunt
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Few Americans realise that uranium once intended to destroy their civilisation is now helping to keep it very much alive by powering televisions, microwaving dinners and chilling beer.
Uranium extracted from Russian nuclear warheads helps supply about 10 percent of U.S. electricity, according to USEC, which has charge of the "Megatons to Megawatts" project that has helped Russia reap profits from previously loss-making nuclear disarmament.
The Bethesda, Maryland-based company purchases uranium taken from dismantled Russian nuclear warheads under a 1993 U.S.-Russian nonproliferation agreement.
The treaty was designed to lower the risk of the Russian uranium falling into the wrong hands and posing a security risk. The highly enriched mineral from the warheads is diluted in Russia prior to shipment to the United States.
http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=oddlyEnoughNews&storyID=4563490§ion=news
Well don't that just beat all?
By Nigel Hunt
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Few Americans realise that uranium once intended to destroy their civilisation is now helping to keep it very much alive by powering televisions, microwaving dinners and chilling beer.
Uranium extracted from Russian nuclear warheads helps supply about 10 percent of U.S. electricity, according to USEC, which has charge of the "Megatons to Megawatts" project that has helped Russia reap profits from previously loss-making nuclear disarmament.
The Bethesda, Maryland-based company purchases uranium taken from dismantled Russian nuclear warheads under a 1993 U.S.-Russian nonproliferation agreement.
The treaty was designed to lower the risk of the Russian uranium falling into the wrong hands and posing a security risk. The highly enriched mineral from the warheads is diluted in Russia prior to shipment to the United States.
http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=oddlyEnoughNews&storyID=4563490§ion=news
Well don't that just beat all?