Anatoliy Nazarov, director of the Ecology Center of IIET RAS, the chairman of the environmental committee of “Chernobyl Union” Moscow Association, Doctor of Biology, RANS academician

— Our strategic objective is to foster the Kostroma Region’s development. This is the true purpose of the nuclear power plant construction

The public hearings on draft statement of work for environmental impact assessment regarding power-generating units #1 and 2 of the Central NPP were held on October, 30 in Chistye Bory, Buy District, the Kostroma Region. About 40 people out of 500 of those who came to participate in the hearings, presented their reports and suggestions. The delegates from Rosatom SK, Energoatom Concern, OJSC and Etomenergoproject, JSC answered all questions of the participants. The outcome of the hearings was the nuclear power plant project support expressed by the citizens of Buy District.

Anatoliy Nazarov, director of the Ecology Center of IIET RAS, the chairman of the environmental committee of “Chernobyl Union” Moscow Association, Doctor of Biology, RANS academician:

Even 4 years ago there could be no dialogues, but the directive resolutions. It had a heavy impact on relationships between a completely closed atomic industry and the average citizens and public organizations. Therefore, it was rather difficult to begin; we (the scientists and specialists holding ranks and having experience) did not fully comprehend why we needed this social interaction and how it could influence the situation. However, as a Deputy Chairman of Rosatom’s Public Council, I can say they managed to persuade me. We must use any resources available, either scientific or humanistic, as well as the culture featuring the Russian intelligentsia to convey it to people why we stand for the nuclear power engineering development.

As a participant of the nuclear weapon tests and liquidation of the Chernobyl disaster, I should mention that the reactor to be used at the Central NPP is the best developed for the last 20 years. It is the last modification, giving no chance to Chernobyl-type accidents. We do not need qua nuclear power. The accident at Sayan-Shushensk Hydroelectric Power Plant made us understand many things. Besides, the nuclear power plant is required for the region’s development. I am sorry to say, the forecasts for the future of the northern regions and the Kostroma Region, providing we take no measures and leave everything as is, predict poor demographic situation, high morbidity, redundancy, and the youth outflow.

We have been to many communities, visited Shushkodom and other villages, and we saw everything as it were. Most of young people, although there are only a few of them left, do support the NPP construction. Many citizens say: “Yes, we support the construction, otherwise we will simply die out soon. However, some people are apprehensive due to the general ignorance. I said them: “Aren’t you afraid that in a few years no one will be left here, neither your children, nor your grandchildren?” Then they tend to give more thought to the issue.

Our strategic objective is to foster the Kostroma Region’s development. This is the true purpose of the nuclear power plant construction.

REFERENCE:

Construction of the Central NPP is suggested at Buyskiy District of the Kostroma Region, 10 km to the northwest of Buy City, on the right bank of Kostroma River.

The developer’s functions are executed by Energoatom Concern, OJSC with 100% of its shares owned by Atomenergoprom, JSC. The Concern includes all 10 nuclear power plants in Russia, granted the status of the Concern branches, and NPP supporting companies. All 10 Russian nuclear power plants operate 31 power-generating units with 23,242 MW of rated capacity, including: 15 pressurized-water reactors — 9 of WWER-1000, and 6 –WWER-440; 15 pressure-tube boiling-water reactors – 11 of RBMK-1000, and 4 of EGP-6; and 1 fast neutron reactor. The power generated by the nuclear plants in Russia makes 16% of the total output.