News
Publish date: March 19, 2004
News
Italy promised to allocate 360m euros for Russian nuclear submarines’ dismantling and environmental nuclear safety programs during 10 years. The first talks on implementation of this program took place at the Zvezdochka shipyard in Severodvinsk in the end of January, Nord Media Company reported. The Italian delegation spent two days examining the shipyards capacity and talking to the specialists.
The Italians said at the meeting that their main wish is to contribute practically to the rapid and safe submarines dismantling in the frames of G8 partnership against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction. Therefore, the meeting in Severodvinsk was mostly dedicated to financing of the dismantling works and further improvement of the Zvezdochka infrastructure. However, the source of Nord Media Company in Severodvinsk said the first practical steps of Italy in this direction were expected not before summer.
Throughout the past year, our mission at the Bellona Environmental Transparency Center has focused on two key, but intertwined issues—nuclear and radiation safety as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine drags on, and the worldwide influence of Rosatom, Russia’s state nuclear corporation, which itself is actively involved in the war and has participated in the occupation of a Ukrainian nuclear power plant.
At the beginning of the year, reports in the German and Russian press suggested an approximate 70% increase in uranium imports from Russia to Germany in 2024. But does this reflect broader European trends? It does not. Overall, imports of uranium and nuclear fuel from Russia to Western countries actually dropped sharply in 2024. Unlike the situation in Germany, this is already an established trend.
A Lingen, Germany plant could begin producing nuclear fuel in cooperation with a subsidiary of Rosatom, Russia's state nuclear corporation, which is directly involved in the war in Ukraine and occupying the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
In this news digest, we monitor events that impact the environment in the Russian Arctic. Our focus lies in identifying the factors that contribute to pollution and climate change.