Ukraine and the United States are working out a schedule of work at a joint facility being built at the Pavlohrad Chemical Plant in Dnipropetrovsk region as part of the program to dispose of solid rocket fuel from SS-24 intercontinental ballistic missiles.
"Today the U.S. side, as part of the commitments it assumed, has mostly completed the delivery of special equipment for a plant for the disposal of solid rocket fuel and the empty shells of ICBM motors. Its installation has begun. It is planned to complete the working out of the schedule of work at the facility by June," a source familiar with the implementation of the project told Interfax-Ukraine.
According to preliminary estimates, the commissioning of a joint facility for the disposal of solid rocket fuel and the empty shells of ICBM engines is slated for this autumn.
According to the Space Agency of Ukraine, in 2011, the program for the disposal of solid rocket fuel from SS-24 intercontinental ballistic missiles was 68% financed: Hr 103.97 million out of Hr 152.58 million planned was allocated. In 2012, the budget financing foresees Hr 229.68 million for the purpose.
In April 2011 equipment for the hydraulic washing out of solid rocket fuel was launched at Pavlohrad Chemical Plant. The U.S. Department of Defense in 2010 agreed to increase funding for the program to $24 million to complete the program in 2013.
Ukraine is obliged to dispose of solid rocket fuel from SS-22 ballistic missiles at Pavlohrad Chemical Plant under the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START-1) and state programs on the elimination of SS-22 ballistic missiles and solid fuel from these missiles.
Under the program, it is planned to dispose of all of the solid rocket propellant in Ukraine, of which there is about 5,000 tonnes, by late 2013.
