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Cooperative efforts to strengthen nuclear safety and reduce the risks of nuclear contamination in the Russian North West have been proceeding between Norway and Russia since 1995. In April 1995, the Norwegian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Siri Bjerke, approached the Russian government with a proposal for a comprehensive program on ensuring nuclear safety in the Russia's northwestern region, which would include $20 million in Norwegian aid for 1995.[1] Particularly important to Norway was the effort to enhance safety at the Kola nuclear power plant in Russia, deemed by some experts to be one of the most dangerous power plants in the world. Norwegian assistance to the Kola power plant has been financial and technical. As of 16 November 1997, Norway had spent 64 million kroner (approximately $9 million) on enhancing the safety at the Kola plant.[2] In February 1997, Norwegian Foreign Minister Bjorn Tore Godal announced a plan for new Russian-Norwegian nuclear cooperation for 1997-1998.[3] By this time Norway had begun to envision other potential means of nuclear assistance to Russia. It was also reported that month that a new state investment fund to provide assistance for the northwestern part of Russia had been created, with Norwegian Minister of Trade Grete Knudsen at its head.[4] In 1997 Norway allocated over $13 million for the development of nuclear safety programs in Russia. As of 28 February 1997, Norway invested or planned to invest a total of over $50 million to improve nuclear safety in Russia's North West.[3] On 28 April 1997 Bjerke visited Moscow and discussed with Russian officials a number of joint programs. Potential and continuing cooperation between the two countries include the handling and secure transport of radioactive waste from submarines and the removal of nuclear waste stockpiles in the Andreyeva Bay near the Norwegian border.[5,6] Since 2002, Norway has been spending about $10 million per year on nonproliferation assistance in Russia.[11] By March 2005, Oslo had already spent more than 1 billion NOK (approximately $150 million as of February 2005) to improve nuclear safety and environmental protection in northwest Russia within the framework of Norway’s Nuclear Action Plan.[12] These funds have been disbursed through a variety of programs. Norway was a founding member of the Arctic Military Environmental Program (AMEC), a program founded in 1996 to address environmental problems associated with Russian nuclear submarine decommissioning. As of September 2004, Norway's contribution to AMEC projects totaled $10 million.[10] In November 2004, Polyarninsky Shipyard received the Picasso radiation monitoring system through AMEC. [9] Norway also contributed €3.2 million (about $4.1 million) for a project to transport an old November-class submarine from Gremikha to Polyarnyy, where it will be dismantled. Since the boat in question was not seaworthy, AMEC paid to have it transported by a special heavy-lift vessel. The operation took place in September 2006.[18,19] Norway is also a contributor to the Northern Dimension Environmental Program (NDEP), an international program run by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (for more information on NDEP, see the EBRD Nuclear Safety Account description in the International Assistance Programs file). Norway's contribution to NDEP clean-up programs totaled €10 million ($12.2 million as of January 2005).[13] In addition, Norway is a member of the G8 Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction. Between June 2003 and June 2007 Norway committed €66.3 million (nearly $89 million as of 26 June 2007) to projects under this program, of which it had spent €62.9 million (about $84.7 million) by June 2007. The majority of this money, about $32 million, was spent on submarine dismantlement and spent fuel management, another $12.9 million was spent on physical protection measures at Andreyeva Bay.[19] Norway also has a history of funding projects to dismantle radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs), particularly on the Kola Peninsula, since 1997.[14,15,16] RTGs are generators that use strontium-90, a highly radioactive substance, to power lighthouses and various other navigational beacons. Each of these RTGs contain 40,000 curies of radiation. As part of the G8 partnership program, Norway has spent €14.2 (about $13.3 million) to dismantle RTGs in Murmansk and Arkhangelsk. In November 2004, the Murmansk regional administration and Norway's Finnmark county signed a contract agreeing to the decommissioning of 31 RTGs. Additionally, plans were made to install solar panels at the 31 lighthouses involved.[8] Another 31 RTGs were to be dismantled in 2005.[17] By June 2007, all 126 RTGs in Murmansk and Arkhangelsk oblasts had been removed. Plans called for dismantlement of 27 RTGs in 2007. In addition to Norwegian funds, Norway facilitated the expenditure of a €360,000 contribution from Canada in 2005 and €607,500 from France for RTG projects in 2005-2007.[19]
Sources:
Page last updated 26 June 2007 Comments or questions? Contact Contact Cristina Chuen at MIIS CNS: Cristina.ChuenATmiis.edu
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