Russia to Contribute Funds for Chernobyl Safety
Sergei Kiriyenko, head of Russia’s state-run Rosatom, recently told an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) conference the Russian Federation intends to help Ukraine improve security at the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant and speed up the start of work on the plant’s decommissioning. To assist in these efforts, Russia is contributing $17 million to the Nuclear Safety Account and the Chernobyl Shelter Fund.
Both the Nuclear Safety Account and the Chernobyl Shelter Fund are operated by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The Nuclear Safety Account finances nuclear safety projects in Central and Eastern Europe. The Chernobyl Shelter Fund is helping to pay for the construction of the New Safe Confinement structure that will cover the remains of Reactor 4 and the original Sarcophagus at the Chernobyl Plant.
Both the Nuclear Safety Account and the Chernobyl Shelter Fund are operated by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The Nuclear Safety Account finances nuclear safety projects in Central and Eastern Europe. The Chernobyl Shelter Fund is helping to pay for the construction of the New Safe Confinement structure that will cover the remains of Reactor 4 and the original Sarcophagus at the Chernobyl Plant.
Do you think there is ulterior motives for them giving this money to help with the project, given the way Russian/Ukraine relations are right now and Ukraine's possibility of joing Nato.
Or do you think they feel genuinely bad or responsible for what happened back in 86?
Posted by: Graham | September 30, 2008 12:20 PM
I don't think you can equate Russia's government today with the Soviet government that was in power at the time of the Chernobyl accident. The people involved in Russia's current government had nothing to do with Chernobyl and I would be extremely surprised if they felt any responsibility or remorse for the disaster. Also note that the contribution is being made by Rosatom, a state-owned corporation that is technically not part of the government, just controlled by it.
Your point about ulterior motives is probably correct, especially considering the timing of this contribution. I am sure this offer is an attempt to improve relations with Ukraine, but is not meant to directly influence the current Ukrainian government.
Considering the problems between Yushchenko and Tymoshenko, and that Ukraine currently does not have a functional parliament, the country looks headed for another pre-term election. One possibility is that the contribution is meant to sway Ukrainian voters toward the pro-Russian Party of Regions.
If the Regions Party can win the election over the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc (BYuT), it will allow Regions to form a majority government and probably get Viktor Yanukovych back in the Prime Minister's office. If that happens, relations will definitely improve and Russia will once again be able to exert its influence in Ukraine.
Another possible reason is simply that Rosatom wants to get themselves in a good position to build new nuclear reactors for Ukraine. The Ukrainian government has plans for more than doubling the country's nuclear power production by 2030, including new reactors at existing sites and the construction of completely new facilities. I'm sure Rosatom wants to be heavily involved in this initiative, though the last I heard, Areva, Westinghouse and South Korean reactors were the only ones under consideration.
Posted by: Mark
| September 30, 2008 2:49 PM