VLADIVOSTOK. Jan 22 (Interfax) - Japan will invest over 1.1 billion rubles in building a regional center for conditioning and long-term storage of radioactive waste in the Primorye Territory.
"The Far Eastern Center for Treatment of Radioactive Waste is cooperating with Japanese colleagues under international agreements. For instance, Japan has pledged to allot 1.158 billion rubles. The money will buy equipment for treating radioactive waste," the press service of the Primorye Territorial Legislative Assembly said on Tuesday citing Center Director Konstantin Sidenko.
The construction of the radioactive waste storage site in the Primorye Territory has been discussed at a meeting of the Primorye Territorial Legislative Assembly chairman and deputies with representatives of Rosatom and RosRAO.
"The agreement envisages Japan's assistance exclusively in the cleanup of the Cold War legacy. By funding the cleanup, Japan is providing its own security from potential threats posed by radioactive waste that is being disposed in the Primorye Territory. Japan fears consequences of a Fukushima-type accident, so it assigns funds for the provision of radiation security in the Far East. The agreement does not mention an exportation of radioactive waste," the press service quoted Sidenko as saying.
DalRAO has been designing and building a regional center for conditioning and long-term storage of radioactive waste in Fokino, Primorye Territory, since 2013. The site is due to be commissioned in 2020.