LOL adapting the former communist lines are you? There is no problem until we say there is and we will never say there is a problem hence there will never be a problem...

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No. I'm simply not aware of any problems with Russian nuclear facilities. Since you seem to know better, kindly enlighten me

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"Sawdust at the the Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant

ST. PETERSBURG—Workers at the Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant, or LNPP, located 80 kilometers west of St. Petersburg, have told Bellona that the plant’s turbine condensers—a key component in cooling the steam produced in the turbines of the plant’s aging Chernobyl-type RBMK-1000 reactors—are in an ever-worsening and dangerous state of repair.
"

http://www.bellona.no/en/internation...rad/32617.html

Incidents and safety problems
In 1989, it was three emergency shutdowns of the reactors at Bilibino Power Plant. All due to technical problems. There were also three shutdowns in 1990, but these were caused by human error. In 1991 it was a total of 10 unplanned shutdowns of the reactors. In July 1991, the area surrounding the power plant was radioactive contaminated, caused by a leakage from a transportation of nuclear waste to a nearby storage. In 1992, it was 12 incidents, while in 1994, seven incidents were reported.

It is reported of radioactive contamination of the isotopes: Strontium-90 and Cesium-137, in a large area surrounding the power plant. This is due to repeated leaks from cooling-pipes, and insufficient security of the nuclear waste.

http://www.bellona.no/en/internation...ino/12678.html

Just the top 2 articles on Google.... Just do a search for Russian Nuclear Power Plant Problems and you will get a boatload of articles! Closing your eyes and thinking that there are none is just an illusion. By the way, would you also like to dispute the fact that most of the nuclear powered subs and surface warships are in a state of disrepair and/or extremely unsafe?

Russia should be slapped silly for using outdated technology and endangering mankind and as long as problems with the nuklear systems they own aren't replaced not a dime in aid should be paid to them!

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Grisu was faster than me and pretty much said what I'd have said.

The safety regulations haven't been followed at all times as strictly as they should have been, and some of the technology and plants are outdated.

In addition to Grisu's links there are many more, e.g.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/934794.stm

http://www.greenworld.org.ru/eng/pro...aes/index.html

http://www.bellona.no/en/internation...ersk/8532.html

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Ah, yes, Bellona. Norwegian pseudo-environmental organization, which, when not busy, attempting to spy on Russia's Northern Fleet, or spreading rumors about radioactive contamination of the Gulf of Finland, produces such hair-raising reports.

One little detail they forgot to mention (surely, as a result of an honest mistake), is the fact that the issue of the deteriorating equipment is being addressed. LNPP is currently undergoing extensive repairs and upgrades; bloc 1 is taken off-line.

Not to mention that the plant and the 30-kilometers radius around it are constantly monitored by the State's Nature Committee and the State's Sanitary Commission.

Last incident was 10 yeras ago. No further comments required

I did. The very first article is called "Russian Nuclear Power Plants Do Face Y2K Software Problems" Very relevant indeed.
Yes. Yes, I would.

Russia receives monetary aid? Why, I had no idea!

The Mayak reprocessing facility is indeed a cause for concern. However, 3 new storage facilities will soon be constructed, on the Kola Peninsula (construction will start later this year), near the Ust-Luga port, and near Bolshoi Kamen.

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Glad to hear that the situation is improving.

How about the situation in Seversk? There is still activity, right?

And though they are repairing the LNPP, isn't the fact still that they are extending the lifetime of the old reactors way past their design time limit?

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I don't know about the military reactors. Seversk, after all, is a closed city. However, I'm aware of the plan to build a new water-heating nuclear station.


Yes

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Russian Fleet problems:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3099858.stm

Vladimir Kuroyedov thinks that the Russian Fleet is at its breaking point

The commander-in-chief Vladimir Kuroyedov thinks that Russian Navy it at its breaking point. ?The Navy solves its problems but with difficulty¦, - said Vladimir Kuroyedov in St-Petersburg today. According to him, ?we are losing combatant value¦ in some ways, ?Interfax¦ reports. ?The fleet is gradually losing its capability to perform its tasks, there is not enough finance for its support and development¦, - the commander-in-chief said. The reason is departmental approach to the Navy-s activity and underestimation of its part in the life of the state, Kuroyedov considers.
http://english.pravda.ru/economics/2000/12/22/1622.html
That even came from the pravda... Are you telling me they are spy's and saboteurs too?


Last week the commander of the Russian Navy, Admiral Vladimir Kuroyedov, made waves worldwide when he told journalists that the nuclear-powered flagship of the Northern Fleet, the Pyotr Veliky, was in such bad shape that it could explode "at any moment." Kuroyedov added that the ship's two nuclear reactors were at risk.
http://www.cdi.org/russia/300-12.cfm

But I guess none of that is really happening... March 30th 2004 timestamp by the way!


Now on to foreign aid:
We first started getting sizeable assistance in 1992. We got about $80 million, U.S., in that year. In 1993, it went up to $234 million. In 1994, it reached a peak of $270 million. Since 1995, it has been declining very sharply. It is down to about $220 million in 1995, about one-fifth of what it was the year before.
http://www.gwu.edu/~csol/us-russia-conf/rusacp.htm

Starting pretty much right after the iron curtain came down... I am tired of proving well known and documented facts to people that just don't want to believe it! Read the reports of the IAEA and then we'll talk about it. Russian technology is outdated, in disrepair and underfunded!
If you need to read up on foreign aid to russia:
Russia continues to suffer from 50% annual inflation and a recession exacerbated by the Asian economic crisis. The IMF is planning to shore up Russia with a $4.5 billion loan.
http://www.issues2000.org/VoteMatch/q20.asp

COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN BENJAMIN GILMAN ASKED WHEN WILL U-S
ASSISTANCE TO RUSSIA COME TO AN END ? THE PANEL OF EXPERTS
SUGGESTED THAT U-S AID WOULD CONTINUE FOR SEVERAL MORE YEARS.
SINCE 1991 THE U-S GOVERNMENT HAS PROVIDED SIX BILLION DOLLARS OF
AID FOR RUSSIA. THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND HAS PROVIDED
LOANS OF ABOUT 20 BILLION DOLLARS.
http://www.fas.org/news/russia/1999/990609-rus.htm

Maybe the reading below will not have a lot of figures but shows exactly who all gives http://www.usaid.gov/pubs/bj2001/ee/ru/

Here is the OECD aid chart for Russia:
http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/63/42/1878412.gif

But NOOOBODY gives Russia aid and everyone makes it up.

Nuff said. If it wouldn't be everyone's problem when a nuklear reactor explodes or a nuklear powered ship sinks (e.g. Kursk) nobody would care but since you #%)*@$#% play with stuff that damages everyone's world you ought to be more considerate...

Acceptance of a problem is the first step to solving it!

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I thought we were discussing nuclear safety, not problems in general?

From your article:

Vladimir Kuroyedov thinks that the Russian Fleet is at its breaking point

I will only tell you that this article is more than 3 years old


Peter the Great cruiser doesn't threaten Russia's nuclear security


Why do you keep digging up such ancient articles?



What reports?

Russia's inflation not to exceed 10 percent this year

Regarding aid. Technically, Russia does receive monetary assistance. However, the purpose of this aid is in no way similar to that of the aid during the 90s. Back then, foreign help was needed to prevent the economy from utter collapse. Now, the assistance is used for a very specific purpose. For instance, $750 million, out of $979 million received from the US in 2001, were used for the non-proliferation subsidies. Meaning the Americans are paying Russia to partially disarm. Meaning, Russia would not suffer at all withouth this assistance.


Tell that to US Navy
The Trident Incident ]

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Here is some current news from Itar-Tass concerning the safety issues:

"MOSCOW, April 19 (Itar-Tass) -- The Federal Service of Atomic Supervision has expressed concern about security at nuclear facilities in Moscow.

The service’s spokesman, Valery Rozhnov, told Itar-Tass on Monday, “There are 11 research reactors in Moscow, the combined capacity of which is 20 megawatt … and part of them are operating at higher educational institutions where it is hard to cerate conditions for effective control over the production of radioactive materials.” "

http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2....3968&PageNum=0

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