Vladimir Vnukov, a deputy of the Kostroma Regional Duma

— Today we need to focus on the issues related to NPP’s safety. People must feel assured there is no threat either for themselves or their children and new generations to come, as a result of such facilities’ operation.

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.

Vladimir Vnukov, a deputy of the Kostroma Regional Duma:

Our region needs the projects of this kind. We have gathered here to discuss the issues related to well-being of our region, but let us take a different view on the Central NPP construction. Is there a real security hazard for the Kostroma dwellers and the whole population of the region in case of NPP construction and operation? A famous French environmental engineer gives an example: there is a combustion engine car, carrying people and cargo, serving for people’s benefit. On the other hand, we have a Molotov cocktail, blasting tanks. They both use gasoline, but in the first instance we have a deed of benefit, while the other serves for destruction. Today we need to focus on the issues related to NPP’s safety. People must feel assured there is no threat either for themselves or their children and new generations to come, as a result of such facilities’ operation. Jores Alferov, the Nobel laureate, was once asked: where do you see the future of the power engineering? He replied that the future of the power engineering is in solar energy, and, probably we will move to making solar energy the primary energy source. Then someone asked: “when could we expect this move?» “Well, it will happen at the end of the current or beginning of the next century”, he answered. Because now even in the sunniest countries their efficiency does not exceed 40%, being even lower in other locations. Currently, France has 21 nuclear power plants. Their spacing density is very interesting. There are 6 NPPs in Provence, France. They are located on the area of about the same as from Kostroma to Buy. Just fancy, 6 NPPs stand on something more than 100m km! The radiation level is the same in Provence, while the radiation level at the Atlantic coast in Britain, where they don’t have any NPPs, is three times higher than in Provence due to the natural granites. The advanced countries worldwide place a priority on NPPs, because they are believed to be the most environmentally safe compared to TPPs and other facilities. Therefore I think, the emphasis should be laid on explaining it to people and developing the understanding ourselves that it is real and truly safe. Only if we can realize it is safe, we will need no referendums. Coming back to the referendum issue, I would like to mention that the referendum held in the Kostroma Region in 1996 had neither economy nor ecology involved. It was into mere politics to stir public opinion before the governor’s elections.

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.