Russia works hard to improve its nuclear safety

A submarine’s nuclear reactor explosion or a radiation leak may lead to fatal consequences – meaning their danger to both the population and the environment. The “Arctica -2010” complex exercises, which were conducted at the “Nerpa” (“Seal)” ship-repair plant in Snezhnogorsk in the Murmansk Region put focus on the prevention of the worst-case situations.      

Accidents on nuclear submarines under the modern technologies conditions are practically ruled out. However, emissions of radio-active substances present a very serious problem. 

And if there exists at least the slightest chance that this may happen, then we should do our utmost to rule out any possibility of such events, Expert with the Centre for International Security at the Institute of World Economy and International Relations Vladimir Yevseyev says:       

"Any engine using nuclear energy may create certain problems. For example, for a long time spent nuclear fuel piled up on the Kola Peninsula in the north of Russia. Therefore, it is absolutely clear that not only Russia and the USA, but also some other countries are concerned over these problems."         

According to the scenario of the drill, a radiation leak, with a short-term release of radio-active substances into the atmosphere, occurs on a nuclear submarine during repair works. In a real-time situation rescue services eliminate the radiation consequences of the worst-case situation, practicing interaction between the crisis centres of the ministry for emergency situations and other structures.       

The “Nerpa” ship-repair plant is the main enterprise to repair and service nuclear submarines of the Russian Northern Fleet, which is also responsible for their utilization. A member of the Public Council under the Russian Defence Ministry Igor Korotchenko says how dangerous this process is:    

"The utilization of the decommissioned nuclear submarines entails certain technological risks. Because in the course of utilization the work to unload fuel from the reactor zone and  to mothball the nuclear reactor of the decommissioned submarine is done."    

The “Nerpa” plant is a high-tech enterprise. Therefore, radiation leaks, which may have a bad impact on the people’s health, are very unlikely. And still, the “Nerpa” plant remains a potentially dangerous facility, and everybody must be ready for an unpredictable turn of events.

The “Arctica- 2010” exercises were conducted as part of the 1994 Russian-American agreement on cooperation in the sphere of study of radiation impact on human health and environment. Earlier such exercises were held on the Atomflot service base, on the Bilibino nuclear power plant on the Chukotka Peninsula, and in Severodvinsk.  Russia is working hard to improve its system of nuclear safety. Which means that all facilities using nuclear energy are under strict  control.