News

Russia and Japan ink nuclear deal

Publish date: May 11, 2009

Russia and Japan have signed an agreement on cooperation in the field of the peaceful use of nuclear energy as a necessary step in their deepening collaboration, and to the dismay of Russian and Japanese Environmentalists.

The agreement was signed between Russia’s State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom) and Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry during a visit to Tokyo by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, World Nuclear News Reported.
 
In a joint statement, the two organizations said that they share "the same vision of the essential and important role of nuclear energy for prosperity and sustainable growth in the 21st century as one of the key components in their energy mix, providing a source of safe, stable and non-CO2 emitting energy."
 
Under the agreement, they will facilitate bilateral cooperation between the nuclear related industries of the two countries in such areas as uranium mining, nuclear fuel cycle and nuclear power plant construction.

Environmentalists protest the move, as it will involve increased imports of uranium into Russia for environmentally dangerous processing.