Part 8.1

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In his report academician Kapitsa paid especial attention to atomic energetics
and said that it had three main problems on its way to become the most important
energy sorce for the mankind:
- problem of burial of radioactive waste;
- critical danger of catastrophes in atomic stations;
- problem of uncontrolled spreading of plutonium and nuclear technologies.
Development of atomic energetics was accompanied by large catastrophes
(NPP Three Main Island in 1979 and Chernobyl NPP in 1986), by signing international
agreements on control of nuclear technologies and spreading of weapon plutonium.
In spite of a number of unsolved problems the alternative of atomic generation
can appear not earlier than in 50 – 100 years. And it is likely to be linked with creation
of electro station on the basis of pulse thermonuclear energy reactor.
Currently more than 50 countries reported to IAEA about their intension to develop
nuclear energetics in peaceful purposes according to the words of IAEA General
Director Mohamed el Baradei to the Organization of Economical Cooperation
and Development in Paris (France). IAEA Director marked that 10 years ago future
of atomic station was questioned. Now the situation has changed and many developing
countries ask IAEA to help them in construction of atomic electro stations.
Today 10 countries including Belarus are working on programs of development
of nuclear energetics. In China 6 nuclear reactors are being built. Russia plans to
built tens of small and big reactors to 2020. In the world 439 atomic electro stations
are working in 30 countries [2].
Today about 20 % of electricity in the USA are produced by atomic energetics.
As the number of population and energy consumption increase it is necessary to increase
the number of atomic stations to keep the energy production at the same level.
If we consider that increase of energy consumption requires the transition to energy
sources with low extraction of СО2, part of electro energy produced by using
atomic generation will be more than 20 %. Atomic energy has a great importance as
unlike wind energy and solar energy it is capable of producing a large amount of the
main electro energy to which wind and solar contribution can be additional because
these energy sources are available. One more profit of atomic energy is that it requires
little fuel as compared with coal and natural gas that is why mining and waste
are less (1g of uranium produces a million times as much energy as 1g of coal). So
uranium mining and disposal of WNF is much less harmful to the Earth [3].
Since very beginning of development of atomic energetics dangerous radiation
impact on environment has determined high requirements to the control of environment
both in sanitary- protection zone and in observation zone of NPP. Several facts
can prove it:
- Kursk atomic station was awarded a prize of Russian Federation Natural Resources
Ministry “Best ecological project of the year” in nomination “In harmony with
nature”. The name of the project is “Studying biological diversity of anthropogenic
landscapes of Kursk NPP ” [4];
- By the decision of organizational committee of IV Russian ecological conference
“New priorities of national ecological policy in real economy sector” Balakovsk
NPP was awarded honorable title “Leader of nature protection activity in Russia –
2008” for active activities in the sphere of environmental protection and rational use
of natural resources. Director of the station Ignatov V. was awarded an honorable
medal “For ecological security” and its Chief Engineer – honorable order “Ecological
shield of Russia” [5].