Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09MOSCOW1449
2009-06-03 08:08:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Moscow
Cable title:  

RUSSIA'S ROSATOM AND ENVIRONMENTAL/NUCLEAR WATCHDOG GROUPS

Tags:  KNNP PREL MNUC ENRG KRAD SENV PGOV KDEM RS 
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PP RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHMO #1449/01 1540808
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 030808Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3606
INFO RUEHLN/AMCONSUL ST PETERSBURG 5378
RUEHVK/AMCONSUL VLADIVOSTOK 3261
RUEHYG/AMCONSUL YEKATERINBURG 3616
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC
RUEAEPA/HQ EPA WASHINGTON DC
RUEANFA/NRC WASHDC
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
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