Putin orders review of Russia’s future nuclear plans
On Monday Putin said there was no need to change the plans to build several new nuclear power plants. Today the same Putin orders to analyze Russia’s new-building plans following the catastrophe in Japan.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is on Tuesday quoted by several Russian media stating that Russia’s state own nuclear power corporation Rosatom and other ministries must analyze the plans to build new nuclear power plants in Russia.
- Rosatom, the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment must come up with an analysis within a month, Putin says to Itar-Tass.
The Times says this is the first time in history that someone in the Russian leadership has questioned the future of nuclear energy in Russia. The country today operates nine nuclear power plants of which one is located in the Barents Region; the Kola nuclear power plant.
Kola nuclear power plant operates four water cooled reactors, of different design, but in principle with the same technology as the ill-fated reactors at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan.
Read all BarentsObserver articles on nuclear safety
Putin stresses that Russia has no nuclear power plants in earthquake areas and do not intend to build anyone in such areas either. –We need to be prepared to act in any eventuality, Putin told reporters on Tuesday.
The Prime Minister’s statement comes only a day after he was quoted by RIA Novosti saying the blasts in Japan will not affect the development of Russian nuclear energy sector.
Russia has since the 80’s had plans to build a new nuclear power plant on the Kola Peninsula aimed to replace the existing one when its retirement age comes. The plans have however been put off and instead the existing reactors have been granted prolonged lifetime licence.
The two oldest reactors at Kola nuclear power plant were commissioned in the mid 70’s and their safety has been questioned by neighbouring countries like Norway.
Read also: Reactor shut-down at Kola NPP
Back in 1993, Kola nuclear power plant was on the brink of a serious incident after a storm cut the external electricity and the cooling of reactors were put in jeopardy.
