The public inspection performed in February 2002 by a deputy from the YABLOKO faction Sergei Mitrokhin at the Zheleznogorsk mining-and-chemical complex in the Krasnoyarsk Area yielded positive changes. A representative from the Zheleznogorsk branch of the public association the Civic Nuclear Non-Proliferation Centre Anatoli Mamayev said at a press conference in Moscow on December 5, 2002, that measures had been taken to strengthen security systems at the complex. For example, the uncompleted shell of the RT-2 plant has been dismantled and a new concrete fence is being built. According to the ecologist, "the rank-and-file workers at the complex are grateful to Mitrokhin that his steps led to the performance of work that had to be done long ago."

Mitrokhin who also participated at the press conference expressed his satisfaction at the improved security at one of Russia's largest nuclear facilities. "Our inspection achieved the key objective: it attracted the public's attention to the problems of security at nuclear plants and forced the Nuclear Power Ministry to begin the financing of corresponding programmes. I hope that all the funds allotted to the strengthening of security systems of the complex will be properly used."

"At the same time the main problems of the nuclear power sector connected to the underfinancing of some programmes lie deeper and require more serious decisions" stressed Mitrokhin. "It is necessary to legislatively change the procedure for forming the tariffs on nuclear energy generated by the nuclear power stations. Deductions of real costs on preservation of nuclear waste and the costs of further treatment of the waste should be included in the calculation of these tariffs. Such a measure would make it possible to obtain funds to provide security for storage facilities, raise the wages of the personnel to the level of wages at nuclear power stations, something which is urgently needed not only at Zheleznogorsk complex, but also at the "Mayak" plant. Today an operator of a nuclear power station earns two or three times more than his colleague from the [Zheleznogorski] complex. This injustice is attributable to the low price for the storage of domestic nuclear waste - only 50 dollars per kilogram, or eight times lower than its prime cost. Workers at other plants of the nuclear-and-fuel cycle, for example at "Mayak" plant in Chelyabinsk region and Siberian Chemical Complex in Tomsk region are in the same situation. For example, almost all the workers of the plants in the nuclear-and-fuel sector are discriminated against, compared to the personnel of nuclear power stations."

Mitrokhin also proposed removing the costs of building new nuclear power stations from tariffs. According to Mitrokhin, "the liquidation of the consequences of disasters at nuclear power facilities is more important than the construction of new nuclear power plants. The feasibility of building such plants raises doubts both from an economic and environmental point of view. In addition, it is unclear why a consumer of electricity from nuclear power stations should pay for the implementation of [narrow] departmental interests of the Nuclear Power Ministry," noted Mitrokhin.

See also:

YABLOKO Against Nuclear Waste Imports