News
Publish date: February 7, 2005
News
The fifth reactor is scheduled to begin operation 4 month later than planned on May 30, 2005, as the defective parts in the reactor lid should be changed, ITAR-TASS reported. The reason behind the delay was the discovery of cracks in the welded seams of the reactor lid of the fifth block. Experts hold that the cracks had appeared due to a production defect and aggressive environment where the faulty parts were operating and claim all the other VVER-1000 reactors have a different safer technology.
On February 4, the head Rosenergoatom concern had to visit the plant to look personally at the ongoing repairs.
The 30 years lifetime of the fifth block expires in 2010, but Russian experts say that it may be prolonged for another 20-year period.
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.