04 November 1999
(Aims to create commercial opportunities for former nuclear workers) (940) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the opening November 2 of the first International Development Center (IDC) in the closed and formerly secret Russian "nuclear city" of Zheleznogorsk. The goal of the center, according to a DOE press release, is to assist in attracting and creating new businesses within Russia's nuclear cities so that there will be jobs for the nuclear scientists, engineers and technicians who have been displaced by the reduction in Russia's nuclear weapons complex. The IDC is sponsored by the Energy Department's Nuclear Cities Initiative (NCI), a nonproliferation program to help create commercial jobs for these workers "so that they are not tempted to sell their knowledge of designing and producing nuclear weapons to rogue nations or terrorist states," according to DOE. Energy Secretary Bill Richardson called the project "unprecedented. It signals a strong commitment by both the United States and Russia to do whatever it takes to contain the knowledge of how to make nuclear weapons." DOE's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) near Hanford, in the state of Washington, is coordinating the establishment of the IDC in Zheleznogorsk and two other IDCs expected to open in the coming year in the closed Russian nuclear cities of Sarov and Snezhinsk. PNNL, which has helped attract outside businesses into the Hanford region, already has extensive experience working with the Russian business community. The Zheleznogorsk IDC will be staffed by professional Russian business counselors. Among its functions: -- To coordinate economic development efforts planned and already underway, with city and local officials -- To provide businesses and workers with skills training and strategic planning -- To conduct an economic assessment of Zheleznogorsk to determine what businesses would likely be successful and what skills are in demand -- To assist companies with the tools to access financial backing Following is the text of the press release: (begin text) U.S. Department of Energy Washington, D.C. November 2, 1999 NUCLEAR CITIES INITIATIVE OPENS FIRST INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER IN RUSSIA -- Energy Department to Assist in Bringing Business Skills to Displaced Nuclear Weapons Workers The Department of Energy (DOE) today celebrated the opening of the first International Development Center (IDC) to provide business resources to displaced Russian nuclear scientists, engineers and technicians in the closed and formerly secret Russian nuclear city of Zheleznogorsk. The center, which will be staffed by professional Russian business counselors, is sponsored by the Energy Department's Nuclear Cities Initiative (NCI), a nonproliferation program to help create commercial jobs for Russian nuclear workers so that they are not tempted to sell their knowledge of designing and producing nuclear weapons to rogue nations or terrorist states. Russia is downsizing its nuclear weapons complex and has asked the United States Department of Energy to share the lessons it has learned from its own experience in shrinking the U.S. nuclear complex. "This invitation for Energy Department experts to help nuclear scientists in Russia's formerly secret nuclear materials production city of Zheleznogorsk is unprecedented," said Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson. "It signals a strong commitment by both the United States and Russia to do whatever it takes to contain the knowledge of how to make nuclear weapons." The goal of the International Development Centers is to grow new businesses that keep profits within Russia's nuclear cities for long-term success and jobs creation. The IDCs will work to tailor local economic strategies to the needs of each individual nuclear city. The Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is coordinating the establishment of the Russian IDCs on behalf of DOE. PNNL supports and assists with economic diversification efforts near Hanford, Washington, by transferring technology to the private sector, helping existing businesses grow, and attracting outside businesses into the region. The laboratory has helped create 40 new companies in 40 months including Mundo Communications, Credit Card Solutions and Corona Cat. New businesses PNNL has helped attract to the Richland [Washington] area include Oregon Metallurgical, a manufacturer of titanium alloys for the aerospace industry. PNNL has extensive experience working with the Russian business community, developed while modeling groundwater contamination in the West Siberian Basin, improving the safety of Soviet-designed nuclear power plant reactors, and sending technical specialists to Russia to control nuclear materials and engage in business creation programs through the Energy Department's Initiatives for Proliferation Prevention (IPP). The Zheleznogorsk International Development Center will coordinate economic development efforts planned and already underway with city and local officials. It will serve as a resource for new businesses by providing businesses and workers with skills training and strategic planning. The IDC will conduct an economic assessment of Zheleznogorsk to determine what businesses are making or losing money, what skills are in demand, and what businesses would be likely to be successful. The IDC will assist companies with the tools to access financial backing available in Russia and in the international financial community. IDC operations in Zheleznogorsk are governed by a board of directors which consists of representatives from Russia's Ministry of Atomic Energy (MinAtom), PNNL, the city of Zheleznogorsk and the Foundation for Russian/American Economic Cooperation (FRAEC) of Seattle, Washington. Board members include Jana Fankhauser, PNNL; Carol Vipperman, FRAEC; Pavel Yakushin, First Deputy Mayor of Zheleznogorsk; and Vasily Zhidkov, Mining and Chemical Combine, a MinAtom production entity in Zheleznogorsk. Two additional International Development Centers are expected to open in the coming year in the closed Russian nuclear cities of Sarov and Snezhinsk. (end text) (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State)