MOSCOW. March 5 (Interfax-AVN) - Spent nuclear fuel will be unloaded from eleven nuclear submarines in 2003, Atomic Energy Minister Alexander Rumyantsev announced on Wednesday.
Last year, spent nuclear fuel was offloaded from 14 nuclear subs and nuclear sections were removed and dismantled from 17 subs, the minister said.
The rates of disposal have fallen due to a decrease in finances, he said. Moreover, specialists need time to prepare coastal facilities where the subs are dismantled.
The Atomic Energy Ministry is coordinating the disposal of the nuclear subs. Around 100 submarines have been dismantled in the past few years, he said.