nuclear-news

Russia cutting back on nuclear safety expenditure

now under threat as funds for nuclear safety co-operation have been omitted from expenditure earmarked for local regional purposes.

Cash Cut Threatens Finnish-Russian Radiation Safety Co-operation YLE Uutiset22 Nov 10, Co-operation on nuclear safety between Finland and Russia could grind to a halt due to a lack of cash. According to the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK), major safety improvements have been made to nuclear power stations in the Kola Peninsula and Saint Petersburg regions.

According to Jukka Laaksonen, Director General of STUK, nuclear power plants in neighbouring areas no longer pose an environmental risk. Indeed, he adds, their standard is now internationally very high.

His comments, though, are at odds with those by the Bellona Foundation, an international environmental NGO based in Norway. Earlier this autumn, it demanded the closure of all nuclear power plants in the Kola region. This followed three safety incidents this year, the details of which remain sketchy.

Bellona admits nuclear safety has improved in Russia, but only with the help of Finnish co-operation. This is now under threat as funds for nuclear safety co-operation have been omitted from expenditure earmarked for local regional purposes.

Laaksonen says this could lead to an end to joint site inspections.

Cash Cut Threatens Finnish-Russian Radiation Safety Co-operation | News | YLE Uutiset | yle.fi

November 23, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, Russia | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, reactors