Norway has spent some NOK 1.5 billion on various nuclear safety programmes in Northwest Russia since 1995, the paper reported.

The last time the office of the Norwegian Auditor General produced a review of Norway’s Action Plan for nuclear safety programmes in Russia was in 2001, the Barents Observer said, and the conclusions were varied. According to the paper, the review concluded that, “Especially weak goal achievements are within areas including radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel.”

Stepashin and Kosmo are expected to sign the new memorandum covering the period of 2008 to 2010 in the Norwegian border town of Kirkenes on Tuesday, said the paper.