Anti-nuclear Movement in Latvia
Nuclear Policy in Latvia
Latvia has no nuclear facilities, no plans to build them and no plans to establish a spent fuel management facility[1]. However, it is rather a pro-nuclear than an anti-nuclear country. The Government's opinion on nuclear power is positive[2]. The general public opinion 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 called „Salaspils Research Reactor“ (SRR) and is located in Salaspils, 2 km from the centre of Salaspils city, 25 km from Riga, the capital. SRR 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 a 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 shareholder of the Visaginas NPP project. In February 2012 several Latvian environmental organizations wrote a letter to the Latvian Prime Minister expressing their negative opinion about this project. Also they asked 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 the Prime Ministers of all Baltic States met in Lithuania and "reaffirmed their commitment to build the Visaginas power plant promised to work together to make sure progress is maintained"[6].
Groups and organizations working on the anti-nuclear field
- Latvian Green Movement
- Latvijas Zaļā kustība, Alda Ozola, Latvijas Zaļā kustība, Meža iela 4, Rīga, LV-1048, alda.ozola AT zalie.lv [7], http://www.zalie.lv
- Vides aizsardzības klubs (Environmental Protection Club)
- 11. novembra krastmala 35, Riga, LV-1050, Phone: + 371 29659655, http://www.vak.lv (currently not working)
- Friends of the Earth Latvia
- Latvijas Zemes draugi, Margrietas iela 16 - 3, Riga, LV-1046, zemesdraugi AT zemesdraugi.lv [7], http://www.zemesdraugi.lv/
- WWF Latvia
- Pasaules Dabas Fonds, Elizabetes iela 8-4, Riga, LV-1010, Phone: + 371 67505640, Fax: + 371 67505651, http://www.pdf.lv/
Organizations/institutions connected to nuclear issues
- Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development of the Republic of Latvia: http://www.varam.gov.lv/eng
- Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre, State Ltd. Company: http://www.meteo.lv
- Radiation Safety Centre of the State Environmental Service: http://www.vvd.gov.lv/lv/strukturvienibas/radiacijas-drosibas-centrs
References
- ↑ http://www.vatesi.lt/fileadmin/documents/Ataskaitos/Latvijos.pdf
- ↑ http://wiki.em.gov.lv/wiki/Atomener%C4%A3ija
- ↑ http://inventions.lza.lv/proto.php?id=131
- ↑ http://www.musubaldone.lv/index.php?p=5601&lang=1079
- ↑ http://www.zalie.lv/data/File/ener%C4%A3ija/Vides%20NVO%20vestule%20par%20Latvijas%20dalibu%20Visaginas%20AES.pdf
- ↑ http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NN-Baltic_PMs_pledge_nuclear_support-0903128.html
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 For protection against automatical email address robots searching for addresses to send spam to them this email address has been made unreadable for them. To get a correct mail address you have to displace "AT" by the @-symbol.