| The 17th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster provides
a reason to attract attention to developments in Russia. The Chernobyl
disaster provided convincing proof that usage of nuclear energy
even for peaceful purposes, despite the highly skilled personnel
and rigid control system existing in the USSR, represented a serious
risk to the health and lives of the citizens.
Since the disaster the situation has deteriorated considerably.
The number of radioactively dangerous sites has increased, their
safety has declined and the fixed assets are depleted. New threats
have emerged, such as "nuclear terrorism" and wide-ranging
terrorist acts at facilities of the Ministry for Nuclear Power.
The accumulative mass of radio-active waste from the nuclear power
sector, coupled with the lack of any efficient technology for
their utilization, also provides increased threats.
Similarly the Russian authorities are not sufficiently attentive
to the fate of Russian citizens who suffered from the performance
of the nuclear power sector and work at radioactively dangerous
objects. The problem of evacuating people residing at the territory
contaminated during the 1957
Mayak pant disaster (Chelyabinsk region) has still to be resolved,
while problems at the Techa cascade of water reservoirs have also
increased. In 2002 electricity concessions for the residents of
the 30 km zones around nuclear power stations were abolished.
Serious imbalances in the wages of workers of power stations and
other enterprises in the nuclear industry have been preserved.
We face a situation where the federal budget of the Russian Federation
virtually finances the operations of the Rosenergoatom concern
(a branch of the Nuclear Power Ministry). Taxpayers cover the
cost of a number of programmes directly related to the operations
of the nuclear power sector. Total annual expenditures of the
ministry on maintenance amount to RUR 10 billion; whereas the
profit obtained by the ministry is allocated to the creation of
new nuclear facilities, which increase ecological risks and risks
to the population. Investments on construction of new reactors
alone will amount to about RUR 11 billion this year.
The Bureau of the Federal Council of the Russian Democratic Party
YABLOKO considers it necessary to change the tariff structure
on electricity generated by nuclear power stations, eliminate
temporarily from this tariff expenditures on the construction
of new nuclear power stations, allocating the freed-up resources
to resolve problems that have accumulated in the industry.
The following areas should be financed by order or priority:
- programmes connected with the provision of a due level of radioactive
safety, including the construction of depositories for spent nuclear
fuel;
- programmes to intensify measures guaranteeing the physical
safety of nuclear power facilities;
- programmes of social rehabilitation of the victims of accidents
at nuclear facilities;
- reconstruction of the technical construction of the Techa cascade
of water reservoirs and curbing of the contamination of the Techa
river by the Mayak plant with radioactive waste;
- dismantling of the reactors that are not used or are being
decommissioned.
At the same time the Bureau of the Federal Council of the Russian
Democratic Party YABLOKO considers it necessary to take the following
steps:
- accord citizens a decisive vote in decision-making on the location
of new facilities and the extension of the service life of radioactive
facilities;
- restore concessions to the residents of 30 km zones around
nuclear power stations and distribute them to other enterprises
of the nuclear-and-power complex, including electricity tariff
concessions;
- establish approximate wage parity for the personnel of nuclear
power stations and other enterprises in the nuclear industry involved
in the same type of labour;
- establish a clear distinction between the civilian and military
programmes of the Nuclear Power Ministry and provide information
and ensure the financial transparency of all areas which are not
subject to official secrets.
Maintenance of the Russian nuclear complex in its current state
leads to an increase in state budget expenditures, a rise in ecological
risks and reduction in efficiency. Maintenance of the highly-developed
nuclear complex in Russia requires a revision in the priorities
of the operations of the Nuclear Power Ministry towards safety
at radioactive facilities; payment of compensation for the damage
caused to the lives and health of the people, as well as the risks
of causing such damage; rehabilitation of the contaminated environment;
research to minimise the danger of another disaster like Chernobyl.
See also:
YABLOKO
for Nuclear Safety
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