Medvedev Suggests Wider Use Of Fast-Neutron Reactors
By Ria Novosti
Fast-neutron reactors should be wider used to generate electricity worldwide, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Thursday.
The future of the nuclear energy industry came into spotlight after the accident at Japan’s Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant, which was seriously damaged by a series of explosions in the days following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
“We are convinced that the safety level of nuclear power plants should be increased to the maximum. That’s why Russia, a global leader in reactor engineering, finds the development of the so-called fast nuclear reactors very promising,” Medvedev said.
The Beloyarsk Nuclear Power Plant in Russia’s Urals has operated with a fast-neutron reactor for more than 30 years.
Fast-neutron reactors are considered to be more environmentally-friendly as they leave insignificant amounts of spent nuclear fuel and do not require uranium enrichment, the Russian president said.
Speaking in his video-blog, Medvedev also urged the international community to lay down single rules for the construction of nuclear power plants in seismically active zones.
“Probably, additional requirements and limits are needed to streamline the construction of nuclear power plants in seismically active zones. General international requirements are needed, especially for areas where strong earthquakes and subsequent tsunamis are possible,” he said.
Russian regulations ban the construction of nuclear power plants in zones where 8.0-magnitude earthquakes are possible.
