Ukraine and the United States have launched the joint disposal of solid rocket fuel from SS-24 intercontinental ballistic missiles at the Pavlohrad Chemical Plant (Dnipropetrovsk region).
An Interfax-Ukraine reporter said that an opening ceremony for one of the key facilities in the program for recycling solid rocket fuel – a U.S.-built plant for the disposal of solid rocket fuel and empty engine housings of international ballistic missiles – was held at the plant on Tuesday and was attended by Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John Tefft.
Technical Director of the Pavlohrad Chemical Plant Yevhen Ustymenko said at the beginning of the ceremony that the construction of the facility had been supported by the U.S. side under agreements reached by the presidents of the two countries in 2010.
In September 2012, the United States started building at the plant a facility for the disposal of solid rocket fuel and empty engine casings of intercontinental ballistic missiles. U.S-based company URS was the integrating contractor of the facility.
According to some estimates, the cost of the plant for the disposal of solid rocket fuel and empty engine housings of intercontinental ballistic missiles is projected at about $35 million.
