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Publish date: May 8, 2003
News
This program will allocate funds to Russia for realization of environmental projects in the country’s Northwest, primarily, in Murmansk and Arkhangelsk regions, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Vladimir Chizhov, stated at a press conference on April 19th. The projects are aimed at decommisioning nuclear submarines, the Deputy Minister explained. The agreement is expected to be signed by Russia, the USA, Norway and the EU member-states, Mr. Chizhov said. Vladimir Chizhov spoke on April 19th at parliamentary hearings in the Federation Council, which were devoted to Russia’s national interests and experience in international co-operation in the north of Europe. At the end of the hearings the participants passed some recommendations. For example, they find it possible to consider Russia’s joining the Northern Council. They believe Russia’s membership in this organization will help balance its foreign economic relations and open new opportunities to attract investment to Russia’s northern regions.
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.