Russia's Nuclear Power Expansion
Putin Approves New Plants to Meet Global and Domestic Energy Needs
Taking advantage of worldwide energy needs and calls for a clean energy environment, Russia is rapidly implementing a strategy to build and sell new nuclear facilities.
Over the past several years, Russia has been boosting its economy by selling some of its nuclear technology and reactors to countries around the world. Recently, President Vladimir Putin has authorized a massive revival of Russian nuclear power by approving the construction of 26 new nuclear stations across the country. Far from ignoring the economic benefits of foreign sales, the plan includes an additional 60 nuclear power plants for foreign export over the next 20 years.
Russia's New Energy Priorities
Obviously, nuclear engineering has become an important priority for Russia as we move deeper into the 21st century. Gone are the days of concern about another possible Chernobyl-type disaster. Putin is ready to jump on the opportunities presented by increasing global energy needs and the world-wide movement for clean energy.
Today, Russia has 31 operating reactors at 10 nuclear power stations, generating approximately 15% of the nation's electricity. Russia's faster-than-anticipated economic growth is beginning to strain the country's electrical capabilities, with power shortages occurring across the country, including Moscow. Putin hopes this project will increase the country's nuclear-generated electrical capacity to 25% by 2030.
A State-Run Monopoly
Coordination of such an immense expansion could be mind-boggling. Attempting to place immediate controls on the project, the Kremlin has ordered more than 30 nuclear-related companies to consolidate into a single state-owned juggernaut to be called Atomenergoprom.
Mobile Nuclear Risks
Included in this project is the construction of relocatable floating atomic power stations. The first of these facilities is being constructed by the Sevmash nuclear plant in the Arctic port of Severodvinsk. The floating station will provide heating and electricity to Sevmash and is scheduled to begin operations by 2010.
Critics claim that these facilities pose a huge risk of nuclear proliferation because their fuel is uranium enriched to almost weapons-grade levels (enrichment to 20% versus 4% for most civilian-use reactors). The inherent nature of these movable power stations makes them much less secure than traditional land-based operations, leading to fears of terrorist attacks or misuse by rogue governments.
Environmentalists argue that floating nuclear plants are absolutely unsafe. Risks mentioned include existing nuclear power station safety issues, sinking in the sea, and accidents when towing the units to new locations.
Russian Public Opinion on Nuclear Plants
Recent public opinion polls show that 27% of Russians are in favor of new nuclear power plants, 42% only favor the continued use of the 31 currently operating reactors, and just 19% are completely against any type of atomic energy. Though most of the population favors some type of nuclear power, 70% of Russians do not want a nuclear facility in their neighborhood.
Public concerns are most likely due to the technology being used for these new plants. Though research is underway on new technologies such as breeder reactors, plans are to construct the new facilities with pre-Chernobyl Soviet designs and adding extra safety systems (none will be the RBMK design used at Chernobyl). People may have fewer concerns than they did 21 years ago at the time of the Chernobyl disaster, but the reality of an accident still exists, and they desperately wish to keep themselves out of harms' way.
References
"Putin Signs to Double Russian Nuclear Power." Uranium Stocks. July 17, 2007.
