The Kursk-2 is the planned NPP in the Kurchatov district, Kursk region, meant to replace the working plant when its life is over. Rosatom has pre-chosen a site – the village of Makarovka. However, before passing on to the construction of NPP, Rosenergoatom Concern (produces electric and heating energy at NPPs, part of the State Corporation) and the regional administration decided to consult with locals, organizing public hearings on the future NPP’s ecological impact assessment. 850 citizens participated, among them power officials, representatives of enterprises, cultural and educational institutions, social and ecological organizations, members of scientific and medical society, supervision and controlling bodies, regional mass media.
Facilitation of stability
Local government officials told the audience about the project and its meaning for the region. “The VVER-TOI project which is planned to be implemented at the Kursk NPP-2, – said Vladimir Potsyapun, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on legislative support of use of nuclear energy of the Committee on energy of the State Duma of the RF, – is the most advanced technology that guarantees safety operation of atomic products. Its location at the Kursk site would show the vector of development of domestic nuclear industry towards more safety, efficiency and competitiveness of Russian nuclear power.”
“The NPP-2 is a stability factor for the whole Kursk region. It will give basis for development for the whole Chernozemie for the next century, – pointed out Alexander Zubarev, the first Deputy Governor of the Kursk region. – The construction itself is a major investment project, that will attract huge funds, give work to thousands of our citizens, develop infrastructure, supply large tax volumes to the budget. That’s why we in Kursk are very enthusiastic about this construction”.
Ecologically clean
The Rosenergoatom Concern representatives, in their turn, provided the audience with information about ecological impact of the future plant.
“The Kursk plant meets all the requirements of radiation and ecological safety for nature and population, – said Vyacheslav Fediukin, the Kursk NPP Director. – The work of the plant preserves natural systems, maintains their wholeness and life-supporting functions. This is confirmed by all types of control, done in the region”.
Vyacheslav Fediukin also noted, that the design of the VVER-TOI project doesn’t suggest any radiation influence either on population or environment during its normal long-term operation. The actual radiative effect of the NPP-2 is thousand time less than maximum credible above natural background.
“Ecological situation of the town of Kurchatov and surrounding area is satisfactory, – said Tatyana Chaushka, Deputy Director for Environmental Safety and Environmental Management of the Kursk region. – The total environmental stress of the Kursk NPP in comparison with all Kursk region enterprises is minimal. It does 0,3% in chemical releases, 4,6% in emissions. The many years’ work of the Kursk plant didn’t affect the ecology, all ecosystems remained safe. This is confirmed by state ecological monitoring.
Comprehensive information
The participants had a chance to speak to specialists and ask them questions concerning the project. As a result everyone who attended the hearings unanimously supported the project of construction and operation of the plant. The preliminary materials of ecological stress assessment are still available for the audience. The comments can be added in the course of another month starting from the hearings date.
The Rosenergoatom representatives had done a lot in order to provide everyone interested with full information on the project, having conducted meetings with the inhabitants of 10 communities in all 8 municipal districts of the Kurchatov region; organized 5 technical tours to the plant sites and 5 round table sessions of the Kursk NPP managers with the heads of municipal units and municipal deputies, teachers, doctors, public opinion shapers, representatives of business-society, members of Social Council of the town and of the region.
The mass media of Kursk, Oryol, Belgorod and Sumsk (Ukraine) regions visited the Kursk NPP and scientific and technical conference named “Kursk NPP: yes, there is future”. There were meetings of the plant management with the city’s veterans, with the members of the club of senior citizens. There was an excursion to the expositions of the Social Information Center for the members of Regional Public Organization of Veterans of War and Labour of Kursk. There were more than 100 publications and TV spots issued by local mass media, concerning the subject.
