Difference between revisions of "Anti-nuclear Movement in Latvia"

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=== Nuclear Policy in Latvia ===
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Latvia is a nuclear-free country. It has no nuclear facilities, no plans to build them and no plans to establish spent fuel management facility.<ref>http://www.vatesi.lt/fileadmin/documents/Ataskaitos/Latvijos.pdf</ref> However, it is rather pro-nuclear than anti-nuclear country. The Government's opinion on nuclear power is positive.<ref>http://wiki.em.gov.lv/wiki/Atomener%C4%A3ija</ref> The general public opion about nuclear power is pro-nuclear, too.
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In past Latvia had a research reactor, which is the only reactor the country has ever had. It is located in Salaspils, 2 km from the centre of Salaspils city, 25 km from Riga, the capital and was in operation from 1961 to 1998 and was the only civilian research reactor in the Baltics.<ref>http://inventions.lza.lv/proto.php?id=131</ref> The plant partook in neutron activation analysis and gamma irradiation for various materials.
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Since there are no nuclear power plants in Latvia, the country has a repository only for low and medium level radioactive waste. It is called „Radons“ and is located in Baldone, 5 km from the city of Baldone and 27 km from Riga, the capital.<ref>http://www.musubaldone.lv/index.php?p=5601&lang=1079</ref>
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„Radons“ (in operation since 1962) is near surface  repository for both burial and storage of low and medium level radioactive waste. The repository consists of 2 parts: supervision part and control area with 7 vaults. Only vault No.7 is still in use. The Government plans to extend it but due to various reasons it has not happened yet.
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Currently Latvia is a participant of Visaginas NPP project. In February 2012 several Latvian environmental organizations wrote a letter to Latvian Prime Minister expressing their negative opinion about this project and asking for answers to several questions, for instance, how much this project will cost to Latvians, how participation in this project will conduce Latvian energo-independence, how the spent fuel will be stored and much will it cost.<ref>http://www.zalie.lv/data/File/ener%C4%A3ija/Vides%20NVO%20vestule%20par%20Latvijas%20dalibu%20Visaginas%20AES.pdf</ref> In March 2012 Prime Ministers of all Baltic States met in Lithuania and reaffirmed their commitment to build Visaginas power plant  promised to work together to make sure progress is maintained.<ref>http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NN-Baltic_PMs_pledge_nuclear_support-0903128.html</ref>
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=== Groups and organizations working on the anti-nuclear field ===
 
=== Groups and organizations working on the anti-nuclear field ===
 
* Vides aizsardzības klubs (Environmental Protection Club)
 
* Vides aizsardzības klubs (Environmental Protection Club)
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* [http://www.pdf.lv/ WWF Latvia]
 
* [http://www.pdf.lv/ WWF Latvia]
 
**Pasaules Dabas Fonds, Elizabetes iela 8-4, Riga, LV-1010, Phone: + 371 67505640, Fax: + 371 67505651, http://www.pdf.lv/
 
**Pasaules Dabas Fonds, Elizabetes iela 8-4, Riga, LV-1010, Phone: + 371 67505640, Fax: + 371 67505651, http://www.pdf.lv/
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=== References ===
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{{Footnotes}}
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[[Category: Latvia]]
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[[Category: Anti-Nuclear Movement]]
  
 
=== Organizations/institutions connected to nuclear issues ===
 
=== Organizations/institutions connected to nuclear issues ===

Revision as of 21:37, 10 June 2012

Nuclear Policy in Latvia

Latvia is a nuclear-free country. It has no nuclear facilities, no plans to build them and no plans to establish spent fuel management facility.[1] However, it is rather pro-nuclear than anti-nuclear country. The Government's opinion on nuclear power is positive.[2] The general public opion about nuclear power is pro-nuclear, too.

In past Latvia had a research reactor, which is the only reactor the country has ever had. It is located in Salaspils, 2 km from the centre of Salaspils city, 25 km from Riga, the capital and was in operation from 1961 to 1998 and was the only civilian research reactor in the Baltics.[3] The plant partook in neutron activation analysis and gamma irradiation for various materials.

Since there are no nuclear power plants in Latvia, the country has a repository only for low and medium level radioactive waste. It is called „Radons“ and is located in Baldone, 5 km from the city of Baldone and 27 km from Riga, the capital.[4]

„Radons“ (in operation since 1962) is near surface repository for both burial and storage of low and medium level radioactive waste. The repository consists of 2 parts: supervision part and control area with 7 vaults. Only vault No.7 is still in use. The Government plans to extend it but due to various reasons it has not happened yet.

Currently Latvia is a participant of Visaginas NPP project. In February 2012 several Latvian environmental organizations wrote a letter to Latvian Prime Minister expressing their negative opinion about this project and asking for answers to several questions, for instance, how much this project will cost to Latvians, how participation in this project will conduce Latvian energo-independence, how the spent fuel will be stored and much will it cost.[5] In March 2012 Prime Ministers of all Baltic States met in Lithuania and reaffirmed their commitment to build Visaginas power plant promised to work together to make sure progress is maintained.[6]


Groups and organizations working on the anti-nuclear field


References

Organizations/institutions connected to nuclear issues

References