President of Russia called for extending Russian nuclear power safety standards to the international level

The blog says:
“Attention of many people worldwide now is captured by the events in Japan. At this point, more than twenty five thousand people have been declared dead or missing.
In my blog, as in the entire Russian segment of the Internet and in the Internet as a whole, there are a lot of entries expressing sympathy and support. From the first days Russia has been trying to help its neighbor and partner.
You know that our rescuers were involved in clearing the debris. They are coming back home. Fuel supplies have been increased; humanitarian aid is delivered. And many ordinary citizens of our country are ready to help to the Japanese people; they collect humanitarian aid and offer to accommodate the affected people. I think it is normal, any human would do like that.
At the same time, all of us are tracing hard the progress of elimination of the earthquake and tsunami consequences at Fukushima I nuclear power plant. The thing that had happened there has agitated disputes on nuclear power development worldwide. Various opinions are expressed as to whether nuclear power can be safe at all. And we know what happened, we remember what happened, including, by the way, another tragedy which we will be recollecting in April this year. I mean Chernobyl.
But on the other hand, it is well-known that up to date this is the most economical way of producing electricity. With this way being safe, provided relevant rules are observed during design and construction and subsequent operation of the plant.
It is evident that these rules, these standards must be uniform for all. So in this respect we have to analyze all existing legislation and international regulations. And I believe that they need improvement, for sure.
Probably, additional requirements are needed and, correspondingly, constraints as to building nuclear power plants in seismically hazardous zones. There apparently should be common international requirements; especially where severe earthquakes followed by tsunami are likely. By the way, in our code of nuclear power rules and standards there is already a guideline which prohibits building nuclear power plants where the most severe safe shutdown earthquake, magnitude 8 earthquake may occur. In other words, we already have such norm. In all likelihood, it should be fixed at an international level, because we understand what a catastrophe of such degree can be.
If it happens, it will never affect just one state. Regretfully, it is dangerous to different degrees for neighboring countries and the planet as a whole.
There is one more essential point which is linked to further development of nuclear power. Apparently, we have to build new reactors rather than extend lives of already existing plants. But to build them with maximum-efficiency protective barriers. As to this aspect, our nuclear experts (and I spoke with them on this topic many times) are ready to bear responsibility for plants built by us not only in the territory, of course, of our country but also in the countries where Russia has contracts for building such plants. One of recent examples we discussed with our Turkish partners, i.e. construction of a NPP in Turkey. This NPP, Akkuyu NPP will be built with the use of a brand new plant control system, which is designed to serve through the entire life cycle of the plant. A joint venture is going to be set up which will be responsible for both its construction and operation; this is a brand new approach and, at the same time, one of guarantees of the plant’s safe operation on the whole.
The design of another Russian [nuclear] power facility, which has been built in India – Kudankulam nuclear power plant – includes a so-called passive heat removal system, which, even when electricity is lost like it happened, say, in Japan, will ensure cooling of reactors and prevent a catastrophe.
This is of cause a progressive approach and we believe that also in other cases a level of protection of nuclear power plants has to be raised to maximum. Therefore, Russia, being an acknowledged leader in developing nuclear reactors, believes that development of so-called fast neutron reactors is promising. These reactors possess inherent safety features. In addition, their use helps to crucially reduce accumulation of spent fuel; and you understand that there may be problems in managing it, as well. On the whole, these do not require enriching uranium. And, certainly, on the whole, this broadens access to peaceful atom for many countries who are striving for it.
The accident at Fukushima makes us thinking also about widening authorities of the international organizations which are responsible for nuclear power safety. Thereat, these must be real authorities. The authorities, which would be conditioned, so to say, by the situation, and which would allow solving tasks entrusted to these international organizations. Thereat, information openness and absolute transparency principles should be observed.
Integrated checks of reliability, seismic resistance have already conducted at nuclear power plants in Russia in spite of the fact that most stringent guidelines are in place in our country, as I have already said.
Representatives of mass media, non-governmental organizations and other public organizations carry out public control. And public information centers should be set up in cities where nuclear power facilities operate.
Radiation level, today and in future, should be measured automatically and continuously communicated on various information websites, i.e. on-line, including the Russianatom.ru. This is a special website devoted to this topic. In my view, such approach can be officially recommended by the IAEA, as an international organization, for use by all nuclear power plant operators for everybody to work in equal conditions.
And the most important thing is to substantially improve trust of people in development of nuclear power in the world. This is a very promising area of activity.”