Di bandar Rusia yang hidup bersama loji nuklear

Kalinin Nuclear Power Plant, situated four miles southeast of Udomlya, Russia, stands as a significant landmark in the small town's economy. The town, located approximately 200km northwest of Moscow, features small houses, gardens, small ponds, and children going to school. After a few days in Udomlya, the most captivating aspect was the normalcy of life, despite the presence of the nuclear power plant. Two nuclear cooling towers, visible from afar, are integral to the plant's operations.

The plant utilizes two nearby lakes as part of its cooling system, along with the Udomlya lake. Two cooling towers of the Kalinin Nuclear Power Plant are visible in the town's landscape. While touring the plant area, a Kalinin employee pointed towards small houses lining the lake. Houses with gardens are a common sight in Udomlya. Residents grow vegetables and fruits, bringing them to the site on weekends. They also swim in the lake and use the lake water for irrigation.

According to the employee, the lake's water is closely monitored for radionuclides, temperature changes, and other indicators to ensure safety. The safety is an integral part of daily life near the nuclear power plant. Kalinin officials stated that monitoring is continuous, and information is accessible to residents. The plant's representative mentioned a protective sanitary zone surrounding the facility, as well as a wider area under surveillance.

"Radiation monitoring is conducted continuously in this zone," they explained, detailing checks on the surrounding environment and residential areas. Measurements are taken manually and automatically, tracking radiation levels around the plant. Importantly, residents can view the monitoring results online. "Everyone can access information about radiation levels here," they added.

Information on the safety level is also available online. However, the statement about safety levels is based on information from the plant's controllers. A brief tour organized by the relevant parties does not allow for an independent assessment of the plant's safety record or the long-term impact of the nuclear facility on the environment. Nevertheless, the openness in providing monitoring data to the public drew attention.

The nuclear industry provides about 6,000 jobs at Kalinin, accounting for around 25% of the working-age population in the area. The plant also collaborates with schools, colleges, and universities to train future workforce. A young apprentice, who joined Kalinin in 2018 after completing his studies at Tomsk Polytechnic University in Siberia, shared his experience, starting as a junior operator and rising to the position of senior operator.

Outside work, he enjoys life in Udomlya, including sports facilities, parks, repaired roads, and concerts. This highlights the close relationship between the plant and the town. Fishing by the cooling towers is perhaps the most unusual aspect of this relationship. In Udomlya's lake, teams from Hungary, Egypt, Turkey, Russia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Indonesia, South Africa, Uzbekistan, India, and Malaysia participated in a fishing competition, with the towers clearly visible in the distance.

The teams brought various species of fish, including pike, zander, perch, and channel catfish. The fish were measured, recorded, and released back into the lake. Malaysia emerged as the winner, followed by Russia and Hungary. However, Malaysia's victory had an interesting backstory. Almost all countries sent experienced anglers, but Malaysia did not.

The team consisted of a person with a degree in economics who now works in media, and Fairus Farid, a nuclear engineer from the Malaysian Nuclear Agency. Both are not experienced anglers, yet they managed to win. This is an amusing side story in an otherwise serious event that carries a message about the environment. Plant officials noted that continuous monitoring over the years has shown the impact of Kalinin's operations on the surrounding area.