Ural Electrochemical Combine

The Ural Electrochemical Combine (Russian: Уральский электрохимический комбинат) is a company located in Novouralsk, Russia. It is a subsidiary of TVEL (Rosatom group).[1] Beginning in 1949, the plant began the production of Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU).

Ural Electrochemical Combine
TypeOpen Joint Stock Company
Founded1945
Headquarters
Novouralsk
,
Russia
ParentTVEL (Rosatom)
Websitewww.ueip.ru

History

The Ural Electrochemical Combine was important to the Soviet Union due to its history of foreign partnerships. The facility was heavily involved in the construction of centrifuge plants in Shaan-xi and Lanzhou, China in the 1990s to serve China's domestic fuel needs.[2] The facility also enriched uranium for Kazakhstan, with the Soviet Union receiving a share of 50%, proportionate to the need to enrich to 6000 tU/yr.[3]

The Soviet Union began replacing its gaseous diffusion equipment with centrifuge technology in the 1960s. By the end of the Cold War, when all equipment had been replaced, the facility had the capacity to produce almost 12 million SWU per year.[4]

The facility is now converted to civilian use and no longer produces highly enriched uranium. Today, the facility enriches uranium for Low-Enriched Uranium (LEU) fuel, and develops technologies for industrial applications.[5] In the early 2000s it accounted for 49% of Russia's enrichment capacity.[6]

References
  1. "Разделительно-сублиматный комплекс". Tvel.ru. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  2. Bukharin, Oleg (2004). "Understanding Russia's Uranium Enrichment Complex". Science and Global Security. 12: 193–218. doi:10.1080/08929880490521546.
  3. "Russia's Nuclear Fuel Cycle | Russian Nuclear Fuel Cycle - World Nuclear Association". www.world-nuclear.org. Retrieved 2017-04-27.
  4. Podvig, Pavel (2011). "History of Highly Enriched Uranium Production in Russia". Science and Global Security. 19: 58–59. doi:10.1080/08929882.2011.566467.
  5. "Urals Electrochemical Combine (UEKhK) | Facilities". www.nti.org. Retrieved 2017-04-27.
  6. Bukharin, Oleg; Hippel, Frank Von (2004). Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces. MIT Press. p. 101. ISBN 9780262661812.

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