The Russian Federation, like the Soviet Union before them, isn't known for their scrupulous safety controls or concern for the environment. To them, it's a matter of slapping a structure / plant / industry together as quickly as possible and damn (and then hide) the consequences. The nuclear disaster at Chernobyl was the most glaring and deadly example of their lack of attention to quality and safety. Most recently, the explosion that released nuclear materials on August 8 at their Nyonoksa weapons testing range and Russia's lack of transparency about it has to give the world pause.
Now, we have Russia's floating nuclear power plant, the Akademik Lomonosov, completing a 3,100 mile journey through the Arctic Ocean and arriving at a Siberian port. And what will the floating nuclear plant be doing there you ask?
"The Akademik Lomonosov will provide energy for around 100,000 people and also power oil platforms as Russia develops extraction of natural resources in a mineral-rich area whose eastern tip is only a few dozen kilometers from Alaska." (our emphasis)So they're using the nuclear plant to power oil drilling platforms not far from Alaska, giving us the possibility of a nuclear accident and an oil rig blowout in a fragile environment. Such a Russian move. As environmental groups point out:
"Environmental groups led by Greenpeace Russia have, however, long criticized the project, warning it will have 'serious consequences' for a fragile ecosystem in case of storms or accidents.If an accident does occur, don't expect the Russian regime to announce it or take swift, remedial action. Their sorry track record speaks for itself.
Greenpeace has warned of the risk of a 'nuclear Titanic' and 'Chernobyl on ice' and environmental fears were heightened following an August explosion at a nuclear research facility in Russia’s far north which saw local radiation levels briefly spike."
