Profiting from Chernobyl
Quick Links:
The business of cleaning up and rebuilding Chernobyl is an expensive task, and many international companies have a great interest in being contracted to help. Domestically, the clean-up and rebuilding process along with handling all of the other problems caused by Chernobyl’s excess of nuclear waste potentially means thousands of jobs for Ukrainian citizens, along with considerable profits for consultants. Employment in the region could very well be bolstered by the activity of international business.
Despite its unforgettable history, Ukraine seems to believe that nuclear power can help it improve as a nation. In a controversial move under President Viktor Yushchenko, Ukraine plans to build eleven new nuclear power plants. Their potentially profitable plan to import spent nuclear fuel from other countries and store it in the already severely contaminated off-limits zone of Chernobyl was paused due to massive worldwide opposition to the idea.
Many nuclear energy scientists, experts and researchers consider the 30km restricted and heavily contaminated area around the infamous reactor to be an ideal location to conduct scientific research. They hope to be able to use the area for botanical field tests, research projects on radiation, and potentially even genetic experiments. In fact, plans are underway to construct a large open-air laboratory located within a 10km perimeter of the accident site.
There are also plans to develop a tourist attraction between the research site and the checkpoint where armed police officers with Geiger counters (to measure radiation) guard the zone’s access point. These plans include a national park that will include local wild animals as well as rare plants.
While the taste in which these plans are being made is subject to debate, the fact remains that Chernobyl is in dire need of help. Whether the interest of 3rd parties and international companies will have a positive or negative effect remains to be seen, but in the mean time many citizens of Chernobyl and surrounding areas may find financial relief from the increased availability of employment opportunities.
Comments
Leave a Reply