Plutonium produced by the ADE-2 reactor and its counterparts, ADE-4 and ADE-5 in Seversk, has not been used in the weapons program since 1994. Instead, it was stored on site in the form of plutonium oxide. During this period the three reactors produced 18 tonnes of weapon-grade plutonium. This material will be consolidated at Zheleznogorsk. ADE-4 was shut down in April 2008, ADE-5 - in June 2008.
Russia no longer produces weapon materials
The last Russian plutonium production reactor, ADE-2 at Zheleznogorsk, was shut down on April 15, 2010 at noon local time (04:00 UTC) as planned. This event marks the end of production of weapon-grade fissile materials in Russia.
Anonymous
Pavel, do you have information on total amount of reactor-grade heavy water produced in USSR? I have found information on all countries excluding USSR and China. I would be grateful for any information. I have several CIA estimates on it, but they restricted by 1963 and seems to be exaggerated.
Pavel Podvig
No, I haven't seen data on heavy water production. Kruglov in his book discusses early plans (ca. 1947) to build a 10 tonnes/year heavy water production plant. The plant apparently became operational in 1948. But other than that, there is little data on production there.