Vladimir Shpinel, senior researcher of Department of Nuclear Spectroscopic Methods of Nuclear Physics Institute of Moscow State University

– We must continue developing nuclear energy

On the eve of the 23rd anniversary of the accident at Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, from Apr 10 till 22 2009 Levada-Center held a poll concerning the attitude of the Russians towards nuclear energy. 1,602 people over 18 took part in the survey. 35% of the Russians advocate the preservation of nuclear energy, almost as many support its active development. The results of this poll are not very much different from those of the survey held in 2006. This proves that the Russians show stably positive attitude towards nuclear energy. Only 5% of the respondents have said that Russia must give up nuclear energy, 12% advocate a gradual phase-out (against 15% in 2006). 42.5% of the Russians believe that nuclear energy will be able to replace oil and gas when they come to an end (15% opt for water resources, 9% for coal, 5.1% for other sources of energy). People living in the regions hosting nuclear power plants show more positive attitude towards nuclear energy: 75% in the Central Federal District and 71% in the North-Western Federal District. In Moscow 45% advocate status quo, while 30% say that nuclear energy must be developed.

I think that we must continue developing nuclear energy so as not to fall behind the countries that give it high priority. If we stop generating nuclear energy, what will we have, where will we get safe energy from? 

23 years after the accident people have begun to show positive attitude towards nuclear energy. I think that we can further enhance its safety. Were it not for the Chernobyl accident, I think that today all of our people would support the development of nuclear energy.