Deputies finally adopted a law allowing the import of spent nuclear fuel into Russia

The State Duma today adopted in the third and final reading a law allowing the import of spent nuclear fuel into the Russian Federation for reprocessing and temporary storage.

243 deputies voted for the law “On introducing amendments to Article 50 of the Law of the RSFSR “On the Protection of the Natural Environment”, √ 125 were against, and seven abstained. According to the law, before the import of spent nuclear fuel, state technological and other examinations of the project, provided for by the legislation of the Russian Federation, must be carried out , and the overall reduction in the risk of radiation exposure and the increase in environmental safety as a result of the project must be justified.

As reported by RIA Novosti , the law stipulates that the import of irradiated fuel assemblies of nuclear reactors into the Russian Federation is carried out on the basis of international treaties. The procedure for importing irradiated fuel assemblies of nuclear reactors is established by the government. At the same time, Russia reserves the right to “return or ensure the return of radioactive waste generated after reprocessing to the state of origin of nuclear materials.”

The Duma today adopted two other laws from the same government package. The Law “On Amendments to the Federal Law “On the Use of Atomic Energy” regulates the conditions for the import and export of spent nuclear fuel. Finally, the Law “On Special Environmental Programs for the Rehabilitation of Radiation-Contaminated Areas of the Territory” provides that the restoration of radiation-contaminated areas of the Russian Federation is carried out at the expense of income from foreign trade operations with spent nuclear fuel.

According to experts, the amount of such income could reach about $20 billion by 2020. 75% of them will go to the target budget fund of the Russian Ministry of Atomic Energy to finance special environmental programs. The remaining 25% goes to the budgets of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation for the same purposes.

The laws have been sent to the Federation Council for consideration. Meanwhile, the speaker of the upper house, Yegor Stroev, has already stated today that the Federation Council will “very carefully” consider the law on the import of spent nuclear fuel. In his opinion, to begin with, “one should determine what threat this waste poses to future generations of Russians, and not think about the benefits that the import of spent fuel into Russia promises.” Stroev warned: “You shouldn’t think that you can get past this law so simply and easily.”

The governor of the Kemerovo region, Aman Tuleyev, believes that Russia’s legalization of the import of spent nuclear fuel from abroad is a national disgrace in front of the whole world. In his opinion, Russia will be the first and last country to adopt such a bill.

Tuleyev is convinced that the solution to a problem that directly affects the vital interests of the entire population cannot occur without its direct participation. He cites data according to which 93.5% of Russians are against the import of spent nuclear fuel.

In turn, the Governor of the Krasnoyarsk Territory Alexander Lebed is not against storing spent nuclear fuel in the region. According to Greenpeace, 3,000 tons of spent nuclear fuel can be brought to the Krasnoyarsk Territory, where the only free storage facility is located.

At the same time, Lebed claims that there are currently no conditions for waste disposal in the region. “Spent nuclear fuel is a very profitable raw material, the processing of which could be started, and with great benefit for the region,” Lebed said in an interview with the Krasnoyarsk Segodnya Gazeta.

The governor noted that in the region there is a mining and chemical plant for processing spent nuclear fuel , and there is something to process, but we do not have the appropriate conditions for this. According to him, the capacity of the existing storage facility on the edge allows for the placement of 3,000 tons of spent nuclear fuel. But now, according to the governor, “2,400 tons of spent nuclear fuel are already there, stored for reprocessing.”

“The State Duma’s decision is not supported by anything. They don’t even give us money for the maintenance of spent nuclear fuel. And reprocessing spent nuclear fuel from abroad will require enormous costs,” the governor said. This project, in his opinion, “can only be started if appropriate conditions are created and with appropriate financial investments.”