Alexander Derevyankin, Head of the Laboratory of the Research and Development Institute of Power Energy, candidate of technical sciences

— The development of the North-Western region without nuclear power is economically inexpedient

On Feb 7 2007 Sosnovy Bor will host public hearings of the materials on the possible ecological impacts and the future operation of Leningrad NPP-2. Two days before the hearings, the head of the laboratory of the Research and Development Institute of Power Energy, candidate of technical sciences Alexander Derevyankin comments on the existing NPP and the future project.

“Leningrad NPP plays a very big role in the energy supply of the North-Western region, except, perhaps, Kola Peninsula.

In late 1980s-early 1990s LNPP was one of the first Russian NPPs inspected by foreign safety experts. The risk assessment was given in early 1990, and ever since the plant has been constantly raising its operating and ecological safety. As far as I know, western experts have no complaints against the plant. I think it is quite safe.

The economic aspect is evident: each NPP of such capacity is a very serious basis for the host-region’s development.

As regards non-radiation ecology, it is generally known that NPP is a much safer source of energy than any other type of power plant. So, the development of the region without nuclear energy appears to be economically inexpedient. We do need NPPs.
 
LNPP-2 should be stronger than the existing one because the energy shortfall in the region is growing. In think that the new plant should be based on highly-safe WWER reactors – the ones we are presently building in China and India.