OREANDA-NEWS. December 15, 2011.  Representatives of ROSATOM took part in official consultations organized by the Ministry of Environment of Sweden.

The Russian group of experts included representatives of ROSATOM, Rosenergoatom Concern, St. Petersburg Atomenergoproekt and INTER RAO UES. The Swedish participants at the consultations were representatives from the Ministry of Environment, Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, Swedish Radiation Safety Authority, and National Board on Radioactive Waste Management.

“When presenting the information on the Baltic NPP project to the bordering states, ROSATOM is guided by provisions and recommendations of the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo Convention), in spite of the fact that Russia has not ratified it yet,” Sergey Boyarkin, Program Director of the Directorate of Capital Projects of ROSATOM.

Representatives of ROSATOM presented on the site selection procedure and design features of Baltic NPP. “The site selection and justification for Baltic NPP was carried out for four years in accordance with the Russian guidelines and recommendations of the IAEA. Each selection stage included collection and analysis of a large set of factual data. As the result of this diligent work, a site was selected that meets all most stringent recommendations, not only Russian but also international ones,” Boyarkin said.

Representatives of SPbAEP elaborated on the AES-2006 design which was the basis for Baltic NPP. This project rests on experience in operation of VVER reactors at Russian and foreign plants and in many respects is an evolutionary design. It safety system structure is the four-train type that is implemented in projects which are under construction and in operation. Thereat, the design includes special engineering features intended for beyond design basis accident management: a core melt trap, hydrogen evacuation system, primary circuit overpressure protection system, passive heat removal system through steam generators, and passive heat removal system from under containment.

“ROSATOM has always expressed readiness to provide necessary information about the Baltic NPP project upon a first request of foreign colleagues, and in future we are ready to give additional clarification. We believe that provision of information is essential in a public-sensitive area such as nuclear power. Our consultations in the spirit of the Espoo Convention are one of manifestations of the policy of openness ROSATOM is pursuing both in Russia and abroad,” Boyarkin noted.

Fredrik Hassel, Deputy Director General of the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority, said today we have listened to several interesting presentations. The Russian colleagues answered our questions in a full and sincere manner. The Swedish side is satisfied with the received information as well as the air of a well-intentioned and constructive dialogue, which has formed between us and Russian specialists. If we have any additional questions, we will again turn to ROSATOM.

According to the Convention on Nuclear Safety and the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context, ROSATM has sent materials of the Environmental Impact Assessment of Baltic NPP to all bordering states. By date, official consultations on the Baltic NPP EIA, have been held, besides Sweden, with Latvia, Poland, Estonia, Belarus, Germany, Denmark, Finland and Norway.