RUSSIA'S ROSATOM AND ENVIRONMENTAL/NUCLEAR WATCHDOG GROUPS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MOSCOW 001449 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/PRA: NYOUNG E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KNNP PREL MNUC ENRG KRAD SENV PGOV KDEM RS SUBJECT: RUSSIA'S ROSATOM AND ENVIRONMENTAL/NUCLEAR WATCHDOG GROUPS TALK PAST EACH OTHER ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The International Forum-Dialogue on "Nuclear Power, Society and Safety" held April 21 and 22 hosted by Rosatom State Corporation in Saint Petersburg featured Rosatom Director General Kiriyenko's affirmation the current Federal Targeted Plan (FTP) will continue as planned, but that economic realities such as electricity consumption rates could change it. Kiriyenko stated that he expects the U.S. Congress to ratify the U.S. - Russia Agreement for Peaceful Nuclear Cooperation (123 Agreement) in the fall. Neither Rosatom nor local/regional activists listened to the other, with the Head of Bellona Foundation in Russia declaring the forum an exercise in "smoke and mirrors." End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) The Forum's stated intent was to bring Rosatom's senior leadership together with members of local, regional and Russia-wide environmental and nuclear watchdog groups to discuss the societal impact and safety of Russia's "nuclear renaissance," and related nuclear themed topics. Forum attendees included representatives from Rosatom, the French Embassy, and Finnish and Swedish nuclear industry. A few attendees from Russian environmental and nuclear watchdog groups were scattered throughout the audience, with Sergey Baranovsky, President of the Russian Green Cross and Alexandr Nikitin, Head of Bellona (Russia) the most notable non-Rosatom attendees. Kiriyenko: FTP, Economic Reality, the 123 -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Sergey Baranovsky, President of Rosatom-supported Green Cross, opened the forum and introduced Kiriyenko. Rosatom Director General Sergey Kiriyenko delivered the opening address to around 125 Rosatom employees and activists from several Russian regions. Kiriyenko delivered a well-rehearsed set of comments, saying that the current Federal Targeted Plan (FTP) will continue as planned, but with some possible variances based on electricity consumption rates. He also indicated that regional construction rates could be different, as southern Russia's growing demand for electricity might accelerate construction plans for that region. As he often says, Kiriyenko told attendees that "nuclear [power] is the only alternative source of electricity with the capability and climate impact to meet the needs of the future." He qualified this comment by saying that "if fewer nuclear plants were constructed, there would be more money available for research into next generation reactors." (Comment: In recent press interviews, Kiriyenko has consistently left open the possibility that economic reality could cause changes to the FTP. But he always stops short of defining what changes might be in the offing. End Comment.) Kiriyenko said that Rosatom had signed "a number of agreements with leading international companies, including Germany's Siemens and that further agreements may be signed. (Note: On May 12, 2009 Rosatom signed an agreement with Toshiba. End Note.) Kiriyenko also stated that he expects the 123 Agreement to be ratified by the U.S. Congress in the fall. Rosatom Says there is an Information-sharing role for Greens -------------- ¶4. (SBU) With a nod to environmentalists, Kiriyenko asserted that Rosatom "sees a role for the greens." Rosatom "did not see this role before, but now understands that letting people know what is going on will benefit Rosatom." He stated that regional information centers had either been built or were planned everywhere there are nuclear reactors in Russia. An internet data base showing radiation levels across Russia will be available even to "those outside of Russia." Noting that citizens' requests for information will make Rosatom's plans more transparent, Kiriyenko did not specify how this would be done. As Kiriyenko concluded his remarks, a small group of protestors unfurled a large pink banner that read "Rosatom is conducting brainwashing here." When his security team went over to remove the banner and its holders, Kiriyenko intervened and told them to leave it. (Comment: The timing of the "protest" and Kiriyenko's reaction gave the impression that the incident was staged. End Comment.) ¶5. (SBU) Plenary speakers including Duma Deputy Konstantin Zaitsev; Director of the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Chemical Technology (VNIIChT) Valentin Shatalov; and Counselor to Rosatom's Kiriyenko/member of the Public Council Vladimir Grachev, made presentations on nuclear legislation, spent nuclear fuel (SNF), the "green" side of nuclear power and depleted uranium. During the question and answer session it was obvious that neither side was listening to the other. Kiriyenko parried, avoided, or ignored each question posed. For example, when a Tomsk activist asked why a nuclear plant will be built over the objections of the local MOSCOW 00001449 002 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The International Forum-Dialogue on "Nuclear Power, Society and Safety" held April 21 and 22 hosted by Rosatom State Corporation in Saint Petersburg featured Rosatom Director General Kiriyenko's affirmation the current Federal Targeted Plan (FTP) will continue as planned, but that economic realities such as electricity consumption rates could change it. Kiriyenko stated that he expects the U.S. Congress to ratify the U.S. - Russia Agreement for Peaceful Nuclear Cooperation (123 Agreement) in the fall. Neither Rosatom nor local/regional activists listened to the other, with the Head of Bellona Foundation in Russia declaring the forum an exercise in "smoke and mirrors." End Summary. populace, Kiriyenko answered that Rosatom doesn't do its own environmental surveys, that the governor would pressure Rosatom to build sooner rather than later, and that the questioner should organize a referendum to get the legislature to tell Rosatom to stop. Kiriyenko implied that even if there was a referendum against construction, Rosatom would send in "experts" to attempt to change the minds of those who did not agree. ¶6. (SBU) After Kiriyenko's departure, the remaining day-and-a-half of the forum interspersed speakers from Rosatom, environmental groups and local "action" committees. Rosatom representatives continued their presentations, claiming nuclear power as a "green" alternative, outlining continuing nuclear submarine decommissioning, and addressing radioactive waste management issues. Tomsk activists detailed actinide pollution from the local electro-chemical combine. Activists from the Murmansk region as well as from Kostroma, a city approximately 200 kilometers north-east of Moscow, made strongly anti-nuclear presentations. High ranking Rosatom officials were generally not in the room when a non-Green Cross presenter was speaking. (Note: Rosatom generously funds the Green Cross and uses it as a source for pro-Rosatom environmental annoumcements.) ¶7. (SBU) Aleksandr Nikitin, the head of Bellona Foundation in Russia, told ESToff he was pessimistic regarding Rosatom's engagement of local or regional groups. He said the new information access mentioned by Kiriyenko is neither new nor better, as it is actually more restrictive than those laws already on the books. He stated that the Rosatom positions being put forth in the Forum regarding local activists, referendums, and polls were merely "smoke and mirrors". Nikitin said "Rosatom tells the locals to organize, hold referendums, etc., knowing the results will have no weight or value in the end." Nikitin put these points to the forum organizers and Rosatom leadership during a question and answer session. He compared the U.S. Freedom of Information Act system, local referendums and environmental policies with the centralized and controlled system in Russia. Referring to Kiriyenko's admonition encouraging referendums, Nikitin he said this method is "not supported by Russian law." When Igor Konyshev, Director of Rosatom's Department on Interaction with NGOs and Regions and the chair of this portion of the forum, attempted to cut Nikitin off, Nikitin chided, "Don't lie and say we need a referendum. The new law says that nuclear power plants are a secret and can't be openly discussed." At that point he was "asked" to be seated. Comment -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Although the many mid- and high-level speakers effectively summarized Rosatom's positions on a variety of issues, neither side could have been satisfied that this forum established a true dialogue between Rosatom and civil society. The two sides didn't actually listen to one another; they just stated their well known positions and went on their separate ways. The real purpose may have been to provide a fig leaf for Rosatom when dealing with their international customers, by showing how "sensitive" they are to Russia's environmental and anti-nuclear organizations. RUBIN