Scientist: Nuclear power safety should be free from politics

Nuclear power safety should not depend on political, economic or any other factors, Deputy Director of the Nuclear Safety Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences Rafael Arutyunyan told a press conference hosted by BelTA on 25 April.

The Russian scientist pointed to one more important aspect: public perception of radiation accidents regardless their radiological impact is always sharp and leads to serious social and economic consequences. “It is not only the Chernobyl lesson but also the Fukushima accident. The very factor, given the insignificant radiological impact of the Fukushima accident on the personnel and the population, has lead to considerable social and economic consequences,” Rafael Arutyunyan stressed.

According to the media reports, the Japanese government has approved an energy plan that backs the use of nuclear power. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s new plan envisages idle reactors to be switched back on after they are checked by the Japanese Nuclear Safety Commission. The government’s plan also promises to increase the country’s reliance on renewable energy.