Russia declares its 2011 civilian plutonium holdings

Russia submitted its annual declaration that contains data on its holdings of civilian plutonium - INFCIRC/549/Add.9/14. According to the declaration, as of the end of 2011 Russia had 49.5 tonnes of unirradiated separated plutonium, 1.1 tonnes more than was declared in 2010.

Of this amount, 48,100 kg is stored at the reprocessing plant, an increase of 1,100 kg over the 2010 amount. Other reported amounts of separated plutonium did not change: 300 kg is in unirradiated MOX fuel held at reactor sites and elsewhere, and 1,100 kg is "held elsewhere". Of the total amount of 49.5 tonnes, 0.3 kg of plutonium belongs to "foreign bodies". Also, Russia owns 0.6 kg of plutonium that is "held in locations in other countries". This amount is not included in the total.

In addition, Russia has 75,500 kg of plutonium in spent fuel that is stored at reactor sites, 4,000 kg - in spent fuel that is awaiting reprocessing at the reprocessing plant, and 51,500 kg - in spent fuel "held elsewhere". As of end of 2010, these numbers were 73,000 kg, 4,000 kg, and 49,000 kg respectively. Overall, Russia had 131 tonnes of plutonium still in spent fuel as of December 31, 2011, up 5 tonnes from December 2010.

UPDATE 05/25/2014: The error in the amounts of foreign plutonium is corrected - it should be 0.3 and 0.6 kg, not tonnes.