Russian ecologists have called repeatedly for the withdrawal of all nuclear research reactors from the capital citing threats of radiation and health risks. Moscow is one of the only European capitals to still have operating nuclear reactors on its territory.
"We have fully stopped the operation of our largest [40-megawatt F-1 graphite research] reactor," academician Yevgeny Velikhov said. "And we are starting to prepare the first reactor for withdrawal [from Moscow]."
The Kurchatov Institute is Russia's leading research and development institution in the field of nuclear energy. It has a total of 7 research reactors located at various facilities in the capital. Five of these are not operational, and two 8-magawatt reactors, which are used as a neutron source for research and to produce radioisotopes for medicine, are still in operation.
"We have already sent the first shipment of nuclear fuel to the Urals," he said. "It is a large program and its implementation depends on state financing."
The institute is funded through the Ministry of Industry, Science and Technology, and federal budget resources represent about 15% of its total financing.
The expert said there were no other reasons for the delay in the withdrawal other than the lack of financing.
He also said the presence of research reactors in Moscow did not pose a threat to the population.
"In 60 years of its [reactor's] operation, we have not changed nuclear fuel even once and have never repaired it [the reactor]," Velikhov said referring to the F-1 graphite reactor at the institute.
"Its safe operation is ensured by its design," he said.
