The Office of Nuclear Risk Reduction is responsible for the shutdown of the three remaining weapons-grade plutonium production reactors in the Russian Federation. The goal is the permanent elimination of Russian weapons-grade plutonium production.

To accomplish this important nonproliferation goal the office is working with the Russian Federal Atomic Energy Agency in the execution of two projects, the Seversk Plutonium Production Elimination Project (SPPEP) and the Zheleznogorsk Plutonium Production Elimination Project (ZPPEP). Both projects require the construction of energy production facilities to replace capacity provided by the existing weapons-grade plutonium production reactors. The capacity will supply necessary heat and electricity to the two cities of Seversk and Zheleznogorsk.

The NNSA sought and received congressional permission both to solicit and use international contributions for the construction of the ZPPEP fossil plant at Zheleznogorsk.  NNSA has partnered with six additional countries to provide funds for either project construction or design and raised more than $31 million dollars for this project.

As required by international arrangements, NNSA provides annual reports on ZPPEP progress to the international contributors. In addition, NNSA conducts periodic updates to current and potential contributors to increase participation in other NNSA activities, including the Second Line of Defense program and seven programs under the Global Threat Reduction Initiative.