Meanwhile, Minatom has said that it would prefer not to undertake a large-scale MOX program at the current time, and will do so only with heavy funding from abroad. Minatom officials claim that plutonium is a valuable energy resource. US officials say that MOX is not being pursued for its energy value but rather that it has been chosen to facilitate quick disposition of plutonium in Russia. Finally, we are told that the MOX program is a non-proliferation measure. But under pressure from nuclear establishments in both countries, the goal of stabilization and immobilization of plutonium has been undermined by a program which threatens to push both countries into a plutonium economy.
Money makes policy.
The larger the investment into plutonium facilities under the auspices of a disposition program, the more likely it is that these facilities will continue to be used for other purposes once the disposition program is completed. Fresh MOX fuel in commerce presents a proliferation threat as the plutonium in it can be removed and used for weapons purposes. It is clear to us that rather than solving the problem of placing plutonium into safe and secure forms, a MOX program is likely to promote further plutonium processing and use, something that is undesirable on environmental, safety, economic, and non-proliferation grounds. Therefore, we call on the US and Russian governments to stop MOX disposition programs in both countries. Instead, emphasis should be placed on safe storage and development of immobilization programs.