Russia and Romania signed an agreement that would allow Russia to bring back spent fuel of the research reactor at Turnu-Magurele, Bellona reports. The agreement was signed in Bucharest on February 19, 2009.

The reactor in Magurele is a Soviet-built reactor of VVR-S type. It began operations in 1957 and was shut down in 1997. It reportedly used HEU fuel of 36% and 80% enrichment. The volume of spent fuel is estimated to be 200 kg.

Earlier, in September 2003, Russia accepted approximately 14 kilograms of fresh HEU fuel from Romania.

The agreement is apparently part of GTRI's Russian Research Reactor Fuel Return (RRRFR) program - according to Bellona, the cost of the project, estimated to be $4.5 million, will be paid by the United States. Romania is expected to pay $700,000 to keep the processed fuel in Russia.