TENAM Names Acting President After Conspiracy and Extortion Charges.

Russian uranium firm TENAM has named Curt Steel as acting president after its general director was charged with conspiracy and extortion related to a kickback scheme last month. Vadim Mikerin, general director of TENEX subsidiary TENAM USA, allegedly received more than $1.6 million in payments from officials from Transport Logistics International for noncompetitive transport contracts from TENEX for uranium sent from Russia to the U.S., according to a release from the U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland that cited complaints and supporting affidavits. The charges “have no connection with TENAM as a corporate entity or its operations, and no other employees of TENAM are involved,” Steel said in a Nov. 6 letter announcing his appointment. “TENAM continues to operate as normal.”

 

TENEX contracted with TLI starting in 1996 to ship highly enriched uranium from nuclear weapons to the United States for downblending to nuclear fuel by USEC, now known as Centrus Energy. Centrus still has a contract with TENEX for supply of Russian material. “TENEX and TENAM continue to work as usual and this situation will not have any impact on any upcoming deliveries or shipments of material,” according to a TENEX statement cited by Steel. When reached for comment, Steel said he did not know if TENEX or TENAM still held a contract with Transport Logistics International. TENEX did not respond to request for comment.