Introduction

A white paper, Report No. 34 (1993-1994) to the Storting on nuclear activities and chemical weapons in areas adjacent to our northern borders, laid the foundation for Norwegian efforts in the field of nuclear safety. It was drawn up in response to the safety and environmental problems created by widespread civilian and military nuclear activity during the Cold War, especially on the Kola Peninsula.

The Russian nuclear power plants pose a greater risk of radioactive pollution and injury to health in Norway than any other nuclear facilities in areas adjacent to Norway. A serious accident at the Kola power plant could result in acute injury to health in nearby areas and the long-term impacts of radioactivity in food chains would be felt at much greater distances from the facility. An accident involving a reactor on a nuclear-powered vessel would have much less impact, but the high concentration of nuclear-powered vessels in the region means that they are also a threat to health and the environment.

Large quantities of radioactive waste and nuclear material are stored under unsafe conditions in northwestern Russia and therefore pose a risk to health and the environment. Poorly secured fissile material is also a threat to non-proliferation efforts.

The white paper on nuclear activities and chemical weapons was discussed by the Storting in June 1994. In its recommendation, the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs submitted as follows, “Our first objective should be to make a thorough survey of environmental impacts and the need for funding. In the Committee’s opinion, this should result in a plan of action indicating the measures which the Government considers to be most cost-effective in terms of eliminating the threat of radioactive pollution in areas adjacent to Norway.” The Government’s Plan of Action was put into effect from April 1995, and a revised Plan of Action was drawn up in 1997.

Since then, the framework for nuclear safety co-operation has changed considerably. After the terrorist attacks against the US on 11 September 2001, the international community has focused much more on the risk that radioactive and fissile material may fall into the wrong hands and be used in terrorist attacks. This has created broad international engagement in efforts to resolve the problems associated with nuclear facilities, especially in areas adjacent to Norway’s northern borders.

In June 2002, the G8 countries 1Canada, France, Italy, Japan, Russia, the UK, Germany, the US and the EU launched the Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction. They undertook to raise up to USD 20 billion over ten years to support projects in this field. The Global Partnership has defined four priority areas: nuclear and radiological security, dismantling of nuclear submarines, destruction of chemical weapons and employment of former weapons scientists. Norway joined the Global Partnership in June 2003, and has pledged contributions equivalent to EUR 100 million during a 10-year period.

A stronger international engagement in efforts to resolve the nuclear problems in northwestern Russia has been an important objective for Norway ever since the first Plan of Action was adopted in 1995. Norway took the initiative for the negotiations on the Multilateral Nuclear Environmental Programme in the Russian Federation (MNEPR) and chaired the negotiations until the agreement was signed in Stockholm in May 2003. The agreement includes provisions on exemption from taxes, customs duties and similar charges for assistance provided under the agreement, and on exemption from liability in the event of accidents during projects. The right of donor countries to inspect project sites and the use of assistance is an important principle of the agreement.

The EU Northern Dimension Environmental Partnership (NDEP) was established in 2001, and at the end of 2004 had more than EUR 148 million at its disposal for nuclear safety projects in Russia. Norway has contributed EUR 10 million to the NDEP Support Fund. The first NDEP project was to draw up a strategic master plan for the future of nuclear vessel decommissioning and related environmental rehabilitation in northwestern Russia. During the preparation of the plan, the Russian authorities produced extensive material on environmental problems and conditions at Russian nuclear facilities, including detailed analyses of specific problems. According to this plan, the largest and most urgent task is to deal with radioactive waste and secure spent nuclear fuel at the Northern Fleet’s technical support bases at Andreyev Bay and Gremikha on the Kola Peninsula. The strategic master plan is an important tool for deciding how to target multilateral and bilateral efforts.

Since nuclear safety co-operation with Russia started up around 1995, good results have been achieved, such as the improvement of safety standards at the Kola nuclear power plant. The co-operation on the safe handling, transport, storage and disposal of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel in areas adjacent to Norway’s borders has also yielded good results.

During these 10 years, our knowledge of environmental and safety problems at Russian nuclear facilities has improved. Co-operation between inspection and administrative authorities in Norway and Russia has been expanded, and a more open attitude to the problems has developed. A multilateral legal framework for the co-operation has been put into place, and substantial funds have been provided for specific projects through various international initiatives.

As a result, we are now in a better position to tackle the problems associated with nuclear activities in Russia than we were in 1995, when relatively little was known about their extent. Some tasks can be completed within five years, for example securing radioactive sources in Russian lighthouse lanterns near Norway’s borders. The time frame for the G8 countries’ Global Partnership is 2002 – 2012. During this 10-year period, the plan is to complete the dismantling of all the remaining decommissioned nuclear submarines. However, the task of securing the storage facilities for radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel at the Northern Fleet’s technical support bases at Andreyev Bay and Gremikha requires a longer time frame – perhaps 20 years. The current Plan of Action covers the period up to 2012, and will be updated as necessary. Co-operation between the Norwegian and Russian administrative and inspection authorities in the field of nuclear safety should continue after this as part of the bilateral co-operation between Norway and Russia.