| MOSCOW, April 28. Minister for Nuclear Power Alexander
Rumyantsev has warned about a possible collapse in the shield over
the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. "The consequences would
be devastating. The sarcophagus was built to last five years, but
has been there for 17 years. Nobody has inspected these walls in
detail. We do not know what is happening under the shield,"
Rumyantsev told the Izvestia newspaper in an interview published
on April 26.
A new shield should have been built over the sarcophagus. "Projects
were proposed, but they were not implemented. I am rather pessimistic
about the shield," he said. About $150 million is needed.
However, the possible collapse will not trigger a global catastrophe.
"In the worst case scenario, radioactive dust would escape
from under the roof. However, a response to the probable collapse
poses a threat. Doctors have demonstrated that fear and "radio-phobia"
cause more harm than actual radioactive contamination," he
added.
Asked about Russia's nuclear power plant construction programme
in other countries, Rumyantsev pointed out: "Russia is not
building RBMK-type reactors similar to those in Chernobyl in any
country. The VVER reactors are different. Their physics rule out
accidents similar to Chernobyl. If the temperature rises in the
active zone, the chain reaction stops," he said.
The VVER reactors will be installed at the plants in Balakovo,
Volgodonsk and Kalinin. "Only one project includes a RBMK-
reactor. It is the fifth unit of the Kursk nuclear power plant.
However, it was modernized and any acceleration in the chain reaction
there is ruled out," he said.
There are no plans to build a nuclear power plant in Moscow region.
(Interfax)
See also:
YABLOKO
for Nuclear Safety
| 