On the eve of the 25th commemoration day of Chernobyl tragedy Dr Adyl Garibov, the executive director of the Azerbaijani Institute for Radiation Problems, and official representative of his country towards IAEA tells VK about the situation on ‘Fukushima’ plant and the status of the world nuclear energy production.
- How did the ‘Fukushima’ accidents influence radioactive background in Azerbaijan?
- Two of the six ‘Fukushima-1’ reactors breached and considerable quantities of of iodine-131 and caesium-137 were emitted into the atmosphere, but their amount is still less than after the Chernobyl disaster. Some experts expect the radioactive clouds to reach North America and Europe, but these conclusions are based on several suggestions with which I disagree. I don’t believe that current amounts of radioactive isotopes in dangerous concentrations could spread over such wide territories. Of course, radioactive background will be affected everywhere, Azerbaijan included, but there won’t be any dramatic changes.
And if we find these isotopes in Azerbaijan it doesn’t mean they came from Fukushima. We monitor our atmospheric conditions constantly and no changes have been registered so far.
- What problems will trouble Japanese people?
- The catastrophe is very serious; the strength of the tsunami that hit Japan has never been registered before. But Japanese technology stood up to the test. Today the worst part of it is over. The state took proper care of its citizens by evacuating them from the danger zone.
- Will these people ever be able to return to their homes?
- Yes, the territory will be cleaned. The air and water will clean themselves soon, and Japan has the technology of soil cleaning. So there will be no “dead zone”. In some places of Earth the natural radioactive background is higher than it’s there now, but people were able to adapt and live there.
- Could the radiation penetrate the Kuril Islands or south Sakhalin?
- The background is stable there. Only local problems are possible, there’s no danger of massive contamination. I had a meeting with my Korean colleagues yesterday; they say that the situation in the region is normal. However, the ‘Fukushima’ accident poses a serious question of future exploitation of nuclear power in the whole world, as well as the destiny of the future development of this industry branch. 99% of the world’s active nuclear fusion reactors are of the first and second generation, they are too old to be used in the future. Alternative energy sources are capable of covering only 20-30% of the world’s energy demand. Today nuclear energy covers only 15-16%. But what if the figure rises to 70%? That means thousands of operating reactors – who can the radiation security be organized in this case? IAEA is now working on this.
Today third and fourth generation reactors are being constructed – they are safer, more lasting. But we still have to work out security protocols for them, scenarios anticipating accidents of all 7 grades of nuclear danger. When the Chernobyl accident occurred there was no solid plan for such situation. I believe that now we shouldn’t abandon nuclear energy production, we should just make it safer.
- And which nuclear plants present danger now?
- All reactors of the first and second generation. Azerbaijan is surrounded by nuclear powers: Russia, Armenia, Iran – the two latter are in seismic regions. Today the greatest danger is presented by the second sector of Armenian nuclear plant. Armenia is now constructing a new reactor, capable to withstand a 9-point earthquake, but if it will be 10-point… But 40% of Armenian energy ore of nuclear origin so this problem is impossible to solve without the help of international community.
- Will Azerbaijan introduce special protocols for Japanese export?
- Export of radioactive products is impossible. Each item of export passes radiation control in Japan as well as in Azerbaijan. I think that the rumors of radioactive export from Japan are nothing but political provocation and media canards. Japanese products are of high quality and it’s not wise to ban them because of some false sensations.
- When will Azerbaijan acquire equipment of radioactive sterilization of polluted goods?
- We’ve discussed this issue with IAEA. The tender is open, and soon the equipment will be delivered. It will become operational in 2012-2013. According to international standards the procedure is required in the first place for food and medical supplies. Radioactive sterilization is necessary to fight the bacteria we can’t eliminate by heat or chemical agents. After the equipment is installed we can offer to help other countries sterilize their products.
- All kinds of goods can be processed in this installation?- First of all we’ll have to break the psychological barrier; we’ll have to explain that the dosages of radiation used in this installation are perfectly safe. And it is the best way to sterilize products without damaging them.
Interview by Ramin Nazimov. Exclusively to VK.
