Currently-Employed Destruction Technologies: An Introduction

Abstract

Unlike nuclear disarmament, chemical demilitarization is a uniquely unrewarding exercise. The cost factor dominates the scene. The price tag for the Chemical Weapons destruction programme in the United States is estimated at over $13 billion, whereas in Russia, the total cost is likely to range between $5 and $8 billion. Despite its higher cost, nuclear disarmament is, however, less wasteful and provides some tangible benefits and significant return. Enriched uranium and plutonium are, and potentially can be, used in generating electric power at nuclear power stations, including fast breeders and modified Canadian-designed CANDU. Nuclear weapons are increasingly recognized by the United States and Russia as the mainstay of the post-Cold War deterrence posture, requiring continuous modernization concurrently with drastic downsizing. Hence, unless reciprocal agreements to the contrary are concluded, fissile material from dismantled weapons can be reused. Also, in most cases, nuclear dismantlement is conducted at what has recently been nuclear weapons assembly plants by the same well-trained personnel who may be still involved in design, manufacturing and safety enhancement activities.