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Chernobyl reopens

But the West has criticised the decision to restart the plant, saying that not all the agreed safety measures are in place.

Only one of the Chernpobyl reactors remains operational, 13 years after the explosion which caused the world's worst nuclear disaster.

Engineers have been repairing defective pipes.

But officials from the European Bank of Reconstruction and Devolopment, which is coordinating Western involvement at the plant, said they were concerned that Ukraine had failed to put in extra safety features as agreed.

The repairs which started in December, were originally scheduled to end by 15 February, but continued after workers found additional defects. Some 51 pipe joints needed attention.

'No cause for concern'

When reactor number four exploded in 1986, it sent a huge cloud of radiation across Europe.

The other two reactors were closed in 1991 and 1996 and the third is reported to have malfunctioned on a number of occasions.

But Chernobyl Director General Vitaly Tovstonogov told reporters there was no cause for concern with the third reactor which would be "safer and more secure after repairs".

The Ukraine says it needs the reactor to fulfil the country's electricity requirements. When fully operational it should contribute around 3% of the country's supply.

Nearly half the Ukraine's electricity come from nuclear power.

But the Ukrainian authorities say they will shut Chernobyl for good by next year.

'Nuclear blackmail'

The West has said it will help pay for two new reactors to make up for the loss of Chernobyl's output but the cost is turning out to be astronomical. The Ukrainian Government says it may have to keep Chernobyl running if more money is not forthcoming.

BBC Moscow Correspondent Andrew Harding says that some Western officials privately refer to this as nuclear blackmail.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian nuclear workers at Chernobyl and other plants have been threatening to strike over unpaid wages.

Workers at five nuclear power stations are demanding a total of $15m in outstanding wages.

They are refusing to rest between shifts or eat during working hours to underline that disorder in the nuclear power industry could endanger the safety of the country's nuclear plants.

Relevant Stories

Russian nuclear workers go on strike (08 Sep 98 | Europe)
Chernobyl children face immune system disease (04 Sep 98 | Health)
'Close Chernobyl before 2000' (23 Jul 98 | Europe)

Internet Links

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