Russia to become dumping ground for US nuclear waste
Russia will become the world’s largest nuclear dump after a lucrative agreement is signed with the US.
The deal, which was withdrawn by George W Bush during his presidency, was resubmitted by President Barack Obama and gives the green light for nuclear waste from all US power stations to be stored in Russia. US power stations account for 80 per cent of the world’s radioactive waste.
Amidst Siberia’s beautiful forested landscape is the world’s biggest closed nuclear city, Zheleznogorsk. With the water sources near the site already contaminated, construction is underway to extend the plant to store the majority of the planet’s nuclear waste.
However, not far from the closed nuclear site is a village of rural families that have been tending the land for generations. More than two thousands miles away, activists are campaigning for the government to halt the proposed scheme. According to environmental opponents, the move will turn Russia into a giant radioactive garbage bin.
Greenpeace’s Vladimir Chubrov said that billions of dollars are going to bureaucrats, but local people are suffering from the deal. He added that the Russian people would be at increased risks of nuclear accidents.
According to local ecologist Nikolai Zubov, the large river close to the site is one of Russia’s largest. Mr Zubov said it does not make sense for Russia to take waste after another country has already gotten the energy.
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