August 26-29, the Independent Trade Union of INPP received guests from France.
The delegation included the president of the World Council of Nuclear Workers (WONUC) Professor André MAISSEU, executive director WONUC Philippe AUZIERE and President of the European Federation of Trade Unions of the nuclear industry and research (FECER) Francois PERNIOLA.
The visit had its prehistory. In April this year, during the stay of the president of Independent Trade Union of INPP Vladimir DRANIK in Moscow, at the IV Congress of Russian nuclear workers, he had a conversation with André MAISSEU, during which time André MAISSEU became interested in the situation on the shutdown INPP, in the situation around the design of a new nuclear power plant, in the relations between trade union and the administration of the company, expressed the desire to visit Lithuania. And he kept his promise, and did not come alone, but accompanied by two of his companions.
Recall that WONUC is a nonprofit organization that pursues objectives such as the protection of nuclear power, the interests of employees of the nuclear industry, the creation of a positive image of nuclear energy through a variety of activities (workshops, conferences, maxi-marathons). The organization brings together its membership of 36 countries, 2.8 million people.
The last six years WONUC was led by Professor André MAISSEU. His name is well known among nuclear workers at Visaginas, he was visited the INPP several times, including during the 11th International maxi-marathon, the owner of which in 2006 was Lithuania. The period of his presidency expires this year. At the next General Assembly of WONUC, which to be held October 8-10, the leader of the organization will be changed. Presidency takes Philip OZER. He was one of the visitors.
And the third person — Francois PERNIOLA — also is very famous and influential person in the international trade union circles. His organization represents managers and senior staff of the European energy sector. Its main aim is to protect the social interests of its members through the committees of the European Commission. Contacts and cooperation with this organization can be very useful in solving the problems with which the independent trade union is working.
Visit of French colleagues prepared carefully and not one month. Great help and support in the preparation and conduct had made Municipality of Visaginas and a member of the Lithuanian parliament, the chairman of the parliamentary commission, Rokas ŽILINSKAS.
The visit program was intensive and varied. Its first day was held in Visaginas. It began in the office of the Independent Trade Union from brief meeting with the Chairman of union of Visaginas Trade Union Rimantas KUMPIS about the possibility of Lithuania for the second time organize maxi-marathon. Marathon could take place in 2014 and held under the slogan to support the construction of Visaginas nuclear power plant. The meeting participants exchanged views about who could become partners and share the burden of the financial costs of its organization, because this event is expensive.
— I think that the financial support would possible to get from HITACHI, — André MAISSEU. — It is very important for them to build this nuclear power plant in Lithuania. Presence in this part of the world is very important for the company, and HITACHI will do everything to nuclear power plant was built here in Visaginas. So we can ask them.
— We have experience in organizing such a big event, and I think we will be able to prepare and hold it on a good level. After the elections to the parliament, when we will see the results and confirmation of the state policy for the implementation of the construction project VAE (Visaginas NPP), we will begin preparations — summed up the conversation the chairman of the Independent Trade Union Vladimir DRANIK.
Next, the French guests were received by INPP Director General Žilvinas YURKŠUS. He introduced them to the decommission program of the nuclear power plant, described the major phases and tasks of the team at each stage. Informed in detail the situation in which the company is now, how is going the projects implementation, the reasons for their backwardness.
Particular detail he told about funding projects for decommissioning.
Žilvinas YURKŠUS shared his anxiety: “In the period from 2014 to 2017 for work related to the decommission, the Euro Commission promises give to only 210 million euros, that is one-third of the necessary funding. This means that Lithuania should additionally find more than half a billion euros. Lithuania does not have such money. If the missing funding would not be found, then we need to abandon the strategy of immediate dismantling and accept the strategy of postponed dismantling, which will cost much more. In this case not utilized radioactive waste will be disposed at the station much more time. Also staff, who have the knowledge and experience in dealing with this type of reactor, will be lost.
We’re the world’s first who are decommissioning RBMK type reactor. And, if we will implement this project with people who know him, who built him, who launched and operated him, we have a great chance to realize this experience. When choosing and adopting the strategy we were not aware, that will be a problems with financing. If it will be provided in full scope, we will carry out this project, otherwise we will have to stop work. Such is the situation. We were in a difficult situation and uncertain future.”
Guests vividly responded: “It turns out that the EU has pushed Lithuania in a no-win situation. All these additional costs will be borne on the shoulders of the Lithuanian population. With this approach to nuclear energy it will have no future. People will think: if this is the situation with the closure of the old station, why do we have to settle for the construction of a new one.
With the full determination of costs should be borne in mind not only the dismantling of equipment and buildings, and other aspects as employment of staff who lost their jobs, the construction of replacement facilities for the production of electricity, among other things the construction of new nuclear power plant, the purchase of electricity from foreign manufacturers and so on. All of these costs must be included in the overall calculation, so that people know what is the real price of a political decision on the early closure of the INPP. Should be conducted meetings, discussions at all levels to give as much information for politicians, and for the public.”.
The Idea of holding a conference in Lithuania under the scientific support of the IAEA, which could provide a full analysis of the situation on the closure of Ignalina NPP, and then refer with the results of the conference to the European Commission — was voiced by the guests later, during the meeting with the Independent Trade Union, at a meeting with leadership of Visaginas. And this should be done as soon as possible, even it would be better in the next year, they say.
On the second day of the visit the guests from France had several meetings in Vilnius: Department of Energy, where they were received by the Vice-Minister Žygimantas VAIČIUNAS, the Visaginas NPP management. General Director of Visaginas NPP Rimantas VAITKUS told what specifically has been done in preparation of Lithuania to build nuclear power plant and which required international procedures were completed that project Visaginas NPP was really implemented.
The guests visited the parliament where they were received by the Chairman of the Parliamentary Commission for Atomic Energy Rokas ŽILINSKAS. In the office of the Prime Minister they met with adviser of the prime minister Neylas TANKEVIČIUS, who told about the state of negotiations on the financing of decommissioning projects. In VATESI deputy Chief Vidas PAULIKAS with the heads of all departments VATESI answered their questions.
And ended the day in the meeting by talking with the leaders of the largest national trade union centers: the Federation of Industry Workers Juozas NEVERAUSKAS and the Confederation of Trade Unions of Lithuania Arturas ČERNIAUSKAS. And in every place where they had visited, guests actively participated in the discussion, ask questions, express their suggestions on a particular problem.
How the heads of the independent trade union are evaluating the results of the visit?
— Our trade union for many years is a member of WONUC, an organization that supports the development of nuclear energy in the world. Naturally, the WONUC supports the project of new NPP construction in Lithuania, — says Ilona NEKROŠENE, Deputy Chairman of NP
We are also openly stating that we are supporting the project, which is able to give a real impetus to further development of our city and the country as a whole. And we are going to take an active role in supporting it. President FECER Francois PERNIOLA is representing the energy sector across Europe. FECER have the ability to communicate and to make proposals to the European Commission’s committees, and this is for us very important. Ignalina nuclear power plant and its staff are in a exceptional position. In Lithuania we are the only company whose activities are almost entirely funded by the European Union. In order to address specific current financial issues, we often have lack of contacts not only with the Ministry of Energy,
but also with government officials, so the ability to go directly to the European Commission, where our questions are solving, and to convey our position is very important to us. And they assured us that we can always ask for help.
And one more thing. During the visit together with guests in VATESI, we took the opportunity to talk with professionals of this institution on the future structure of our company and coming changes. Was obtained comprehensive and very useful information that we will use during the upcoming consultations with the administration on this issue.
The purpose of the organization of the visit was to express our problems to colleagues in Europe, to convey our concern about the state of affairs, because we are the big trade union and we are representing not an ordinary collective. I think that we have achieved this goal.
— It’s safe to say that after this visit, our contacts with their European counterparts become significantly stronger, -says the head of NP Vladimir DRANIK. — We will conduct a lively correspondence with them, to keep them informed of our actions, to consult on many issues. And we going to take part in the next General Assembly of WONUC, to be held October 8-10 in France, an official invitation to paticipate we already received. We are now discussing what form will be our participation and how we can use this forum to convey to our colleagues of our the problem. There will be opportunity to meet and consult with the leaders of the largest international trade union associations.
prepared by Zoja ŠUPAJEVA, specialist from the Independent Trade Union of INPP to information exchange