A new storage facility for natural and low enriched uranium in the form of UF6 is being built in Novouralsk, in the Sverdlovsk region, near to the Urals Electroctechnical Combine, a major uranium enrichment facility. The USA, a major client of the combine, will buy processed fuel and store it in the new facility until it needs to be shipped for use.
A total of 32,000t of natural uranium will be stored in Novouralsk, but officials say that they have a reliable accident-prevention system and do not expect any leakage.
An opinion poll in the area found that 52% do not oppose the new construction. However, environmentalists oppose the project, and an ecological assessment is underway.
