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The Closed Nuclear Cities Partnership (CNCP) between the United Kingdom and the Russian Federation aims to limit the spread of weapons of mass destruction by contributing to international efforts to address threats arising from the nuclear legacy of the former Soviet Union. It reflects the shared concern of all responsible members of the international community to support co-operation projects to address non-proliferation, disarmament, counter-terrorism and nuclear safety issues, which was embodied in the new Global Partnership launched by the G-8 countries at their summit in June 2002. An important element of the Soviet nuclear legacy are the 10 Closed Nuclear Cities of the Russian Federation, which were created to carry out various stages of the design, manufacture and maintenance of nuclear weapons. Together, the 10 towns are home to a total of 770,000 inhabitants, of whom some 130,000 are employed in nuclear weapons related activities. Many of these are highly skilled scientists and technicians whose expertise could be extremely useful to states seeking to acquire the capacity to develop weapons of mass destruction. In addition, these people are responsible for managing the production, storage and disposal of a massive inventory of sensitive nuclear materials, which could pose a threat to humanity if they fell into the wrong hands. Thousands of jobs are expected to be lost through restructuring and rationalisation resulting from changes in the defence policy of the Government of the Russian Federation, with many more likely to go in the following decade. It is of the highest importance that these far-reaching changes are carried out in a manner, which presents new opportunities for displaced personnel to use their skills to benefit the Russian economy, whilst minimising the risk of nuclear proliferation. Preventing a deterioration in economic and employment conditions and maintaining morale and loyalty among key scientists and technicians as weapons related activities within the closed nuclear cities are scaled down, are crucial to the future of international security and world peace. With this objective, the CNCP programme seeks to generate alternative lasting non-weapons related employment for scientists and technicians with proliferation sensitive skills, access and knowledge. It also aims more broadly to promote sustained social and economic development in the closed nuclear cities to provide an environment where the individuals concerned can see a secure future for themselves and their families. The Partnership aims to bring about changes of mutual benefit. Russian personnel plays an important part in all aspects of the programme and all projects are developed in close conjunction with Russian counterparts, including the Federal Atomic Energy Agency (FAEA), the management of the research and production facilities concerned, the appropriate local and regional administrations and Russian, UK and international enterprises. The CNCP focuses in particular on funding civil sector activities, development, manufacturing or the provision of services, which employ the skills and resources available in the towns and which can provide the basis for sustainable employment and the promotion of viable enterprises. A major effort is being made to develop opportunities to commercialise such products and services in conjunction with UK and other international partners. The UK-Russia CNCP is funded by the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) with contributions from the Russian partners. The UK Government has indicated that it sees the programme as part of a long term effort to tackle the problem concerned. The Programme cooperates closely with the Moscow-based International Science and Technology Centre (ISTC) and uses its partnership mechanism for project funding. CNCP employs four instruments to achieve its goals:
Currently the Programme is working in one form or another with the cities of Ozersk, Novouralsk, Sarov, Seversk, Snezhinsk, and Zheleznogorsk. DECC has entrusted management of the programme to a consortium led by HTSPE Ltd., a UK based consultancy company with extensive experience of programme management and of successfully promoting economic restructuring and transformation in the Russian Federation. HTSPE Ltd. is working in conjunction with AEA Technology and a number of British and Russian consultants to implement the programme. HTSPE Ltd. has established an office in Moscow to assist in the development, implementation and monitoring of CNCP. The Russian stakeholders in CNCP include the Federal Agency of Atomic Energy (FAAE, former Minatom), provincial and city administration officials, and representatives from the institutes in the Closed Nuclear Cities. CNCP's objectives:
CNCP Key Facts
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