Expert: The complex for long-term storage of radioactive waste will solve the problem of environmental recovery and reducing the radiological threat for the north-west of Russia

On November 21-23, Moscow will host the Global Partnership of the Eight Global Partnership: Assessment and Prospects for further cooperation in the field of nuclear and radiation safety. ” In 2012, the International Global Partnership Program of the Eight Group turned out to be 10 years old. The International Global Partnership Program against the spread of weapons and materials of mass destruction officially began in 2002, when the heads of government of the Big Eight made a statement of cooperation in the field of preventing the spread of weapons and massacre materials in the Cananian, Canada. The main areas of global partnership are the disposal of atomic submarines (submarines) and surface ships with nuclear installations, disposal of the vessels of the atomic technological cycle, including the Lepse vessel, nuclear fuel management, and radioactive waste management. In addition, cooperation took place in the areas of physical protection, accounting and control of nuclear materials, the employment of scientists. During the period of cooperation, work was allocated to replace radioisotope thermoelectric generators with alternative power sources in a separate area. The Eight Group, together with another 16 countries that have joined the global partnership since its establishment in Canada, has achieved significant results due to joint work. Representatives from countries and organizations participating in global partnerships are expected at the conference in Moscow.

Anatoly Barnavin , Head of the Department for Non -Proliferation of Nuclear Materials and Technologies, National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute":

Firstly, the results of the work on the recycling program for nuclear submarines can be called important for these 10 years. The legacy in the form of 200 units in these 10 years was disposed of. Secondly, the problems of the nuclear radiation heritage of the North-West of Russia and the Far East are seriously solved. In particular, we create a multifunctional complex for storing reactor compartments and the circulation and long-term storage of radioactive waste in the north-west of the country. We are talking about a powerful structure that will make it possible to practically collect everything that was accumulated in factories where radioactive waste was formed. The reactors of atomic submarines will also go here, for which it will be possible to provide long -term, reliably guarded, protected and controlled storage. So the problem of environmental recovery and a reduction in the radiological threat to the northwest will be solved. This complex is the result of the efforts of both Russia and foreign partners. But we did not limit themselves to them - we create a similar complex in the Far East, where the main contribution was made mainly by the Russian side and on the initiative of Rosatom.

After 10 years, we can say that there are still problems that need to be solved, but their scale will no longer be so serious.