Leonid Bolshov, director of Nuclear Safety Institute

– The exercise in Murmansk is the acid test of improved emergency response monitoring system

The system has been designed for the governor of Murmansk region. The project was financed by the Northern Dimension fund and supported by Rosatom.

I think that our nuclear facilities have quite efficient emergency response systems. I can say that our system is one of the best in the world.

After Chernobyl some people made populist decisions that have caused a huge damage to our country. That’s why, today, all of our governors — first of all, the governors of the regions hosting nuclear facilities — should have such information systems so they can get quick and reliable information about possible emergencies, make correct decisions and quickly inform their populations of what has actually happened.

This will help us to prevent provocations similar to the situation at Balakovo NPP in 2004: an ordinary harmless steam cloud in the machine hall put in shock the whole central Russia. The system will help us to prevent such situations. Murmansk is the first region to have opened such a system. We hope that Arkhangesl region will shortly follow suit. The federal nuclear and radiation safety program will help us to open such systems in all regions having nuclear facilities.

I think that the public must be given access to primary information and independent sources of information. People must know what is actually going on and be sure that they are not being misled. For this purpose, we are creating an on-line information resource. Any person will be able to visit the site and to see what is going on near Mayak or Aangarsk Electrolytic Chemical Combine. This site will help us a lot in our work with the public. The key objective of this project is to prevent radio-phobia among the population: when you know something you no longer fear it.

When you have a source of reliable information, it is much easier to fight sources of unreliable information and provocation. This project will certainly shatter the positions of hired and well-paid provocative groups.

We already have the concept of the site, we just need organization. I hope that next year radiological information will become as widely accessible as weather forecast.

To remind, the Northern Federal Enterprise for Treatment of Radioactive Waste (SevRAO) has launched an improved system of radiation monitoring and emergency response. The project is aimed at enhancing the preparedness of the emergency response forces and raising the efficiency of preventive measures. Now the information about the radiation situation at SevRAO and in the nearby area will be open not only for Rosatom experts but also for the authorities of Murmansk region. Next year Rosatom is planning to make the data of the REA automated radiation control systems absolutely accessible for the public. Experts say that this system will help to enhance the transparency of the nuclear power industry and to raise the public awareness of the situation in the sector.