After a major earthquake in 1988, Armenia shut down its two nuclear power reactors. Reactor Unit 2, a VVER-440/230, resumed operation in 1995. It produces 37 percent of the country's electricity. Armenia began working with the United States on cooperative safety projects in May 1996.

Ukraine has 14 operating nuclear power reactors at five plants. Together, these reactors produce 44 percent of Ukraine's electricity. All five plants work with the United States in cooperative safety efforts. Except for one RBMK at Chornobyl, Ukraine's reactors follow the VVER design. Appendix A describes the designs, and Appendix B lists the reactors.

U.S. specialists work closely with Ukrainian organizations responsible for the design, construction, operation, and regulation of nuclear power plants. Appendix E lists these organizations.

Russia has 29 operating reactors at nine nuclear power plants. Together, these reactors produce 13 percent of Russia's electricity. All the plants work with the United States in cooperative safety efforts.

Russia's 29 reactors represent six designs, as identified in the figure below. The cooperative work focuses on the two major designs--RBMKs and VVERs, which provide 97 percent of Russia's nuclear generating capacity. Plants representing the other two designs (BN-600 and LWGR-12) began working with the United States on joint safety projects in 1996. Appendix A describes the RBMK, VVER, BN-600, and LWGR-12 designs. Appendix B lists the participating reactors.

U.S. specialists work closely with Russian organizations responsible for the design, construction, operation, and regulation of nuclear power plants. Appendix F lists these organizations. A U.S. office in Moscow provides administrative, technical, and contractual support to the cooperative safety efforts.

The United States is working with five countries in Central and Eastern Europe to reduce risks at Soviet-designed reactors. Projects are under way at 20 reactors in the following countries:

Bulgaria	Lithuania
Czech Republic	Slovakia
Hungary

Kazakhstan operates one nuclear power reactor at its plant in Aktau. The Soviet-designed BN-350 is a sodium-cooled, fast-breeder reactor that began operating in 1972. It is the sole source of electricity and heat for Aktau, a city on the banks of the Caspian Sea in sparsely populated western Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan intends to shut down the aging reactor in 2003 and construct new power reactors in eastern Kazakhstan.

In November 1997, the United States agreed to conduct joint safety projects with Kazakhstan.

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