The Center for Strategic and International Studies released a report, titled The U.S. - Russia Civil Nuclear Agreement: A Framework for Cooperation, on May 28 which assesses the agreement signed on the peaceful use of nuclear power between the U.S. and Russia in early May.
The report surmises that the agreement will give the U.S. access to the uranium enrichment project in Russia; and help establish an organization to manage international civilian nuclear power which provides nuclear reactors and fuel to countries with the demand for nuclear energy development. This contributes to the effective prevention of nuclear proliferation.
After signing the agreement, Russia and the U.S. said the agreement provides the fundamental principles and legal basis for cooperation in the prevention of nuclear proliferation. This marks another achievement by international efforts for the prevention of nuclear proliferation. However, some people question how far peaceful nuclear power cooperation will go.
The cooperation is actually beneficial for both countries. Each has its own reasons for reaching the agreement.
The "mutual exchange of needs" offers momentum for cooperation between the two on the peaceful use of nuclear power.
In recent years, some countries have begun to pay attention to use and development of nuclear power amidst rapid economic growth, lack of energy sources and the mounting pressure for environmental protection.
Both the U.S. and Russia possess mature technologies for the peaceful use of nuclear power; but the present nuclear electric power supply does not seem to satisfy their demands. In the past decade, the U.S. maintained 20 percent of the gross electricity supply. To maintain that 20 percent share, the U.S. will have to increase their installed capacity by 60 million kilowatts. For Russia, nuclear electricity accounts for 16-17 percent of its gross electricity supply. According to the agreement, 42 new nuclear reactors will be built by 2030. The agreement will allow the U.S. to obtain nuclear technology from Russia, and Russia will receive funding in return.
The U.S. requires Russia's assistance to prevent nuclear proliferation. The Bush administration has emphasized two key issues – non-proliferation and anti-terrorism – and has kept a close eye on Iranian nuclear activities.
Meanwhile, Russia and Iran maintain long-term cooperation in the nuclear sector. As the U.S. tightened sanctions against Iran, Russia delivered nuclear fuel to Iran: an act the U.S. did not want to see happen.
Analysts say that the U.S. signed the framework agreement as a way of luring Russia away from nuclear power cooperation with Iran. In the meantime, the two nuclear powers' joint development of civilian nuclear power will set a model for nuclear power utilization. Big powers will supply nuclear technology and materials to developing countries; and they will exercise supervision over and the guarantee of nuclear safety. They will ensure that the byproducts of civilian nuclear power will not be used in the military sector. The new model is undoubtedly conducive to breaking the tie on nuclear non- proliferation.
As a matter of fact, the U.S. and Russia cooperated in the nuclear sector in the early 1990s. According to the Cooperative Threat Reduction Program, the U.S. agreed to help Russia dismantle and preserve former USSR nuclear weapons and facilities; and offer life insurance to the nuclear scientists left unemployed. But the cooperation is limited to the military. Russia has requested to sign an agreement on civilian nuclear power; but the U.S. insists that it would refuse to cooperate as long as Russia continues to aid Iran's nuclear electricity project.
In July 2006, Russian president Vladimir Putin reached a consensus with US counterpart George. W. Bush in St. Petersburg, requesting that relevant departments hold talks on the peaceful use of nuclear power. At the end of the year, the departments in both countries submitted a joint plan, indicating that cooperation is not limited to technology; ideas for the prevention of nuclear proliferation and measures are also included. All these efforts have contributed to the signing of this year's agreement.
Extending nuclear cooperation from the military sphere to the civilian arena is significant. But the two countries may just have their own interests in mind for such cooperation. Consequently, their cooperation may not go far.
By People's Daily Online
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