Department of Energy
Contact Information:
Christine Buzzard, Executive Director, DOE Moscow Office
phone: (495) 728-5220
fax: (495) 728-5360
The Department of Energy’s overarching mission is to advance the national, economic, and energy security of the United States; to promote scientific and technological innovation in support of that mission; and to ensure the environmental cleanup of the national nuclear security enterprise. To this end, the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) works cooperatively with the Russian Federation to reduce the threat that hostile nations or terrorist groups may acquire weapons of mass destruction (WMD) or weapons-usable materials, dual-use production or technology, or WMD expertise.
DOE/NNSA’s mission to Russia includes the following three priority areas related to national security:
- Detect nuclear and radiological materials, and WMD-related equipment;
- Secure vulnerable nuclear weapons and weapons-usable nuclear and radiological materials;
- Dispose of surplus weapons-usable nuclear and radiological materials.
In the aftermath of the tragic events of September 11, 2001, DOE/NNSA accelerated and expanded its cooperation with the Russian Federation to combat nuclear terrorism, particularly in the area of fissile material security. Since then, a number of initiatives to further enhance collaboration on nuclear nonproliferation and international security, including the 2005 Bratislava Nuclear Security Initiative, have served as important frameworks for U.S.-Russian cooperation.
The Obama Administration has pledged to reset U.S.-Russian relations and to cooperate more effectively in areas of common interest. Cooperation in several key areas is overseen by the U.S.-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission, which includes a Nuclear Energy and Nuclear Security Working Group, co-chaired by U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman and Rosatom Director General Sergey Kiriyenko. The Working Group oversees implementation of a detailed Action Plan for cooperation in the areas of nuclear security and nuclear energy.
In terms of energy, U.S.-Russia bilateral cooperation on energy issues dates back to the 1990s, existing first as the Energy Policy Group before it was reconfirmed in 2002 as the Energy Working Group (EWG). The U.S.-Russia bilateral energy dialogue is a framework to facilitate the execution of the strategic energy partnership goals, which currently include energy efficiency, energy security, and clean energy innovation. In 2009, the EWG was elevated and became part of the U.S.-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission established during the July 2009 Presidential Summit in Moscow. The EWG is co-chaired by U.S. Secretary of Energy Dr. Steven Chu and Russian Minister of Energy Sergey Shmatko.
Mission of the DOE/Moscow Office - U.S. Embassy, Moscow, Russia
The mission of the U.S. Department of Energy-Moscow Office (DOE-M) is to support the activities of DOE and NNSA in the Russian Federation. Through daily interaction with mid- to senior-level Russian governmental officials, DOE-M is able to advance the implementation of our important cooperative programs. DOE-M works closely with its Russian partners, the U.S. Embassy, and other agencies to ensure that U.S. nonproliferation, energy, and science goals are implemented effectively and efficiently in the Russian Federation.
Under the U.S.-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission, DOE-M advances activities of the Nuclear Energy and Nuclear Security Working Group by routinely interacting with representatives from the State Corporation for Atomic Energy (Rosatom), Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Russian nuclear and industrial regulatory agency Rostekhnadzor, and the Federal Customs Service. DOE-M also supports implementation of the Joint Action Plan and tracks its progress to ensure all milestones are met. DOE-M advances the Energy Working Group by routinely interacting with representatives from the Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, the Ministry of Education and Science, and the Russian Academy of Sciences to promote technical cooperation on energy efficiency, clean energy innovation, energy security, and science.
DOE-M also provides strategic and policy analysis for both DOE/NNSA headquarters and elements of the Embassy, recommendations on the implementation of DOE/NNSA programs, and reporting on events in Russia. This includes furnishing information to headquarters and travelers to Russia about the in-country perspective related to their programs, providing Embassy officials with information on DOE/NNSA program activities in Russia, and ensuring that DOE/NNSA program managers receive detailed, accurate, and timely information about Russian nonproliferation and energy activities, requirements, and views.
DOE-M serves as an administrative support base for visiting DOE/NNSA delegations and personnel traveling to Russia on DOE-related business. DOE-M supports travelers by facilitating country clearances, providing direct staff support to delegations, and making logistical arrangements for delegations. DOE-M also provides specialized administrative support for DOE/NNSA programs, such as processing customs clearance into Russia for U.S. equipment and working issues related to tax and duty-free status for assistance projects.
DOE-M currently consists of six direct hire American employees and 13 Foreign Service Nationals (FSNs). 11 FSNs are located at DOE-M; one is located at the U.S. Consulate in Yekaterinburg, and one at the U.S. Consulate in St. Petersburg.
U.S. National Laboratories:
