327 tons of rocket oxidant liquidated in Moldova

Liquidation of 327 tons of rocket oxidant, melange /a component of fuel/, has been finished in Moldova.

A large volume of the melange had been kept in store at a rocket base not far from Chisinau for 28 years, Moldavan Minister of Defence Victor Gaiciuc reported on Friday. Its storage term ended as far back as in 1985. The cisterns, which contained the oxidant, were exposed to corrosion and the melange might have penetrate in the atmosphere or soil.

The oxidant was neutralized by the British John Brown firm in accordance with a memorandum agreement between the Moldovan government and the NAMSA international agency for disarmament, the minister specified.

The burning of the melange went on well, without environmental pollution, high-tech equipment applied, Gaiciuc remarked.