nuclear-news

“Repository” Russia for German Depleted Uranium

Published on 14/12/2012

Translated from German

IPPNW Blog

The Russian environmentalist and nuclear power opponent Olga Podosenowa, spokeswoman for the environmental group “Ecodefense” in the city of Yekaterinburg in the Urals

The Russian environmentalist and nuclear power opponent Olga Podosenowa, spokeswoman for the environmental group “Ecodefense” in the city of Yekaterinburg in the Urals, lives just 60 miles away from the closed Novouralsk. After Novouralsk 1996-2009 depleted nuclear waste from Gronau arrived in NRW. The total Gronau sent during this period was 27,000 tons of nuclear waste to four Russian cities. How much of that came after Novouralsk, however, is a mystery. We can not investigate this question in Novouralsk, this is still a closed city that was not even allowed toe be entered by Russian citizens.In a conversation I had with Ms. Podosenova we discussed the difficult working conditions of Russian environmentalists and explained why Russia’s environmental movement urgently needs the solidarity of its Western partners.

Ms. Podosenova, you live in the immediate vicinity of Novouralsk, one is of four Russian cities, stored in the depleted uranium from Gronau in North Rhine-Westphalia. Since when do you know that is your neighbor city German nuclear waste?
2004 our group “Ecodefense” learn from our European colleagues that, since 1996, shipments of depleted uranium in the “Electrochemical Combine Urals” in my neighborhood of Novouralsk, a closed city ,allegedly goes for further processing, but is actually being stored. And only 10% of the material supplied by Novouralsk was returned to Germany, the rest remains lying on the ground, where it is stored in the open air. No sooner had we learned from these journeys, we went to the public. We organized camps were held in the immediate vicinity of the places that nuclear waste from Germany came: in Angarsk, Tomsk and near Novouralsk. Environmentalists in Germany and Russia turned simultaneously to the competent public prosecutor, we protested in front of the German Embassy and German consulates.

In what condition is this garbage?
Garbage stored in Novouralsk. Novouralsk is a closed city, there was barbed wire around it, also Russian citizens can visit this city only with a special permit. And thus have a special permit neither environmentalists nor we get independent experts. Against this background, we turned to the public prosecutor, urged them to find out how the garbage is stored. And 2006, we received a response from the prosecution, which is not very reassuring. You have, be determined as the prosecution of the Sverdlovsk region, that technical requirements have been breached for storage, and have called on the leaders to address these shortcomings.In the following decades, the management tried to pacify the population. There, the company’s management, no cause for alarm. But we can not verify that, and we dont believe them either. We  have assumed that the waste remains in stainless containers stored in the open air.

And who is responsible for the storage of the German uranium hexafluoride in Novouralsk?

Formal bear the responsibility, the competent work and its owner. We believe, however, that the responsibility for this garbage is equally on the German and Russian sides.Finally, it has since the German side by the export of waste disposed of elegance to a problem that we have on our doorstep. Urenco has solved its problems on the backs of the people and the health of the people of Uralgegend.

And what does the environmental movement in the Urals want? Do you want the garbage is transported back to Germany?
First, we want to guarantee that such contracts may no longer be closed. But that is not enough. The nuclear companies of Russia and Germany must assume their responsibilities and take care of the problem of garbage.They should stop trying to make the people believe that it was a “strategic value” material. They should also be described as such nuclear waste and to seek technologies that convert this waste, which is highly toxic chemical, so that at least the chemical hazard is reduced. Reminder: Uranium hexafluoride gas is already at 57 degrees. And this gas, it comes into contact with water, deadly even in small quantities.

What are your working conditions? You have to fear reprisals?
repeatedly reproached us, we would weaken our work with the business. But that is not true. We love our country, want to be free of life-threatening large-scale projects, like an environment in which we can raise our children.
Unfortunately, in recent times has increased the pressure on independent groups. The authorities often refuse to allow our actions in certain places, explain their disagreement with our banners. I really hope that one day they will realize that our work but in terms of our country.

Interview by Bernhard Clasen.

http://blog.ippnw.de/?p=737

December 19, 2012 - Posted by arclight2011 | Uncategorized