The YLE TV current affairs programme 'MOT' revealed last Monday the extent of shipments of depleted uranium via the Baltic Sea for enrichment in Russia.
Russia's nuclear power monopoly Rosatom now says the practice will end in a couple of years time. Until now, depleted uranium has been shipped from the west to Russia because more nuclear fuel can be extracted from it at a cheaper rate.
Finland's Environment Administration says extremely strong hulled vessells are used to transport consignments of the material. However, the toxic uranium is transported in such a manner as to cause a lethal air and sea discharge, for example, in the event of a fire.
However, officials from the Administration reassure that a danger would only be posed to life in the immediate vicinity of an accident. It considers the threat posed by an oil disaster to be far greater.
