CAN GEORGIAN TERRITORY STAND AN ATOMIC POWER STATION?
Fridon Dochia

Daily Georgian Times, Georgia
June 25 2007

You have a problem with the place" – Evgeni Reshitnikov

Georgian Times has already offered you various opinions of Georgian
scientists and dedicated some articles to the issues concerning the
possible building of atomic electicity generating power station in
Georgia, with all its perceived threats and benefits. While visiting
France Georgian President Michael Saakashvili’s was offered the
opportunity to build an atomic power station in Georgia. Obviously,
this proposal has many supporters and opponents.

Evgeni Reshitnikov is well known amongst Georgian scientists in
the sphere of atomic energy and he has dedicated his career to this
sphere. Since 1987, when the Ministry of Energy was created during the
time of Soviet Union, he served as its deputy minister and afterwards,
1990-1992 was served in the postion as Deputy Minister of Atomic Energy
and Industry. More recently, 1992 to 2005, and prior to retiring,
he had the post of deputy minister of atomic energy ministry for the
Russian Federation. However, he didn’t receive his pension for long
and was soon invited to serve as the vice president of the company
Atomstroiexport(Nuclear Construction Export).

Currently Evgeni coordinates the construction of atomic power station
and Atomstroiexport" has constructed atomic power stations in China,
India and Iran.

Georgian Times talked with vice president of Russian company
Atomstroiexport. Mr. Evgeni Reshetnikov discussed the expecting
threats and benefits from construction of atomic power station, why
was construction of atomic power station blocked in Georgia during
Soviet Union? These are the issues:

Georgian Times: French offered us the opportunity to build a nuclear
power station in Georgia. What positive and negative aspects may
it have?

Evgeni Reshetnikov: You have a problem with the place ("Ploshadka")
of the construction site. Even in 1986-87 when we intended to start
construction of atomic power station in Georgia, the only place where
we could build it was Gali region, as we couldn’t find any other
location that would be an appropriate place for it, and eventually
we stopped talking about this issue. The most important issue this
regard is to find an appropriate place. By the way, an atomic power
station is something that Georgia desperately needs.

GT: I cannot say it definitely but as far as I’ve heard it was
Vladislav Ardzinba, former leader of breakaway Abkhazia, who played
a vital role laying out the plans to build an atomic power station
in Gali. Is it right?

ER: Frankly speaking he was not the only reason involved Even there the
location is very expensive for construction as there are underground
waters. It would be necessary to strengthen the soil structure and and
that would involve expensive engineering. That time it took us three
days to discuss this issue with Ministers’ Council of Georgian SSR We
came to the conclusion that it would be better to build a high-voltage
line that would provide Georgia with power from Azerbaijan and
Russia. However, we still agreed to continue our discussions about
construction of atomic power station for a later date.

GT: That time Ardzinba was not in Abkhazia at all, and under such
circumstances how could he oppose the building of an atomic power
station in Gali? What kind of leverage t did he have to prevent this?

ER: As I remember he worked in "Sakhmsheni" ("Gosstroi").

GT: As the government states if French build atomic power station
Georgian would become an energy independent country. Do you agree
with such assessment?

ER: Evidently, in such cases every country acquires energy independence
as it is always possible to import fuel.

GT: We still remember Chernobyl tragedy in the Ukraine, and that’s
why there are opponents who take exception to this possibility. How
safe are atomic power station today?

ER: Do you know what’s the point? You should know the history of the
Chernobyl Unit 4 catastrophe. There were some experiments forbidden
by safety instructions and regulation and they were launched there,
and that is why the accident occured.

GT: By the way, Georgian Times had already written about that based
on Georgian Scientists, but let’s explain the reasons anyway.

ER: Let’s say it in simply terms; we have traffic rules saying that
driving on red light is forbidden. They violated this rule and drove
on red light. Atomic power station represents different technology
excluding incidents like Chernobyl. Modern technologies imply double
degree of protection coverage and special containment beneath.

GT: Georgia is located in a seismological active region. That is why
we are all interested in how much safer modern atomic power stations
are in terms of seismology.

ER: We are well aware of this and consideringmodern atomic power
station construction technology, all these aspects are being
considered. Plants are designed to withstand an earthquake up to 9
on the Richter scale. If you remember during the Spitak earthquake
at the Armenian atomic power station that it did not cease to operate.

GT: Evgeni Alexandovich, France offered to help with the construction
of an atomic power station. Does the Russian Federation have the
desire to have such stations as well?

ER: Sure, if government applies we can negotiate with them as soon
as possible.

GT: How do you think, what is the reason our government didn’t address
Russia, is the reason lack of confidence?

ER: There is something about it, I suppose. But this conflict is very
unpleasant for those, who know Georgia well.

GT: What is your personal attitude towards Georgians and Georgia?

ER: I have wonderful relations with both Georgians and Georgia. I
have many friends, we have worked together for a long time, and
we know each other very well. Now I remember how we built Georgia
together. There was such a unit "Sakhidroenergomsheni" (Georgian
Hydro Energy Builder) with the head Dadiani, he was a noble man; I
still have friendly relations with him. We had many Georgians at the
Kurtsk atomic power station. A Georgian was chief engineer but he has
unfortunately passed away. The conflicts that people have today are
not between ordinary people and what conflicts exists are actually
between those who are on a high level.