Report: More funding needed for spent bomb material program

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A report commissioned by U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz says that a program in South Carolina to convert weapons-grade nuclear material into reactor fuel needs more money to succeed.

The Red Team report, obtained Thursday by The Associated Press, concludes that the program that includes the mixed-oxide fuel facility at the Savannah River Site needs up to $800 million annually, not its current $400 million, over the next two to three years to be viable.

The issue is part of an agreement with Russia to convert both nations’ spent nuclear materials. It’s billions of dollars over budget and years behind schedule.

The Obama administration said last year it wanted to put the project on hold. The overall work is now expected to cost about $8 billion.

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Kinnard can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP