Ocean Dumping of Radioactive Waste by Russia - October 1996

Ocean Dumping of Radioactive Waste by Russia - October 1996

Since the days of the former Soviet Union, Russia has dumped approximately 17,000 containers of radioactive waste into the Barents Sea and the Kara Sea, with a total radioactivity of over 2.5 million curies (Ci). This includes waste from the decommissioning of the nuclear submarine "K-27" and nuclear fuel reprocessing facilities, and there are concerns about the long-term effects on the ecosystem. Some of the spent fuel was left behind.

The Russian government announced that it would build an onshore processing facility with an annual budget of 100 million rubles (about 200 million yen), but progress was delayed by the economic crisis. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Norwegian government have initiated the "Arctic Radioactive Waste Removal Program" and are providing international support. This problem has a serious impact on fishery resources and marine ecosystems, and is a major challenge for environmental protection in the entire Arctic region.