Report - UNDP Russia

Table 4.7Mean values of public health impact, Rubles/KWh 44PollutantPlants in Moscow RegionPlants in Central RussiaOperating Planned Operating PlannedPowered by Kuzbass coalSolids 0.30 0.05 0.12 0.008NOx 0.50 0.33 0.24 0.160SO 2 0.40 0.08 0.16 0.034Total 1.20 0.56 0.52 0.202Powered by natural gasNOx 0.07 - 0.03 -located in populated areas with high levels ofpollution and some are in locations, whichhave been declared environmental emergencyzones. In the past human populations wereconcentrated along rivers, in favorableenvironmental conditions. Nowadays,however, Russia exploits vast fuel deposits,and the country is covered by a network of oil& gas pipelines, so that the workingpopulation often lives and works ininhospitable areas.It is hard to obtain accurate informationabout levels of pollution in areas where the fuel& energy industry is mainly concentrated. Thearchaic system used by Roshydromet does notallow measurement of ambient air quality inaccordance with parameters used by developedcountries or recommended by WHO. There areno hygiene norms for ambient air concentrationsof particularly hazardous fine particles, but evenif such norms are adopted by the relevantgovernment agency (Rospotrebnadzor) onlyMoscow and St.Petersburg have a system, whichcan carry out such measurements. There isalmost no information on concentrations of oilproducts, phenols and other toxic substances indrinking water in areas where oil spillages andpipeline accidents have occurred. The situationis no better as regards measurement of ambientair pollution with carcinogenic benzol: existingmethods of measurement are not preciseenough.Assessment of fuel & energy sectorimpacts on public health is a difficult task. Ourestimate is that air pollution accounts for up to3% of mortality in the urban population, ofwhich 15-20% is contributed by the fuel andenergy sector. In some areas, where airpollution is high due to presence of coal-firedpower generators, that share could be as highas 30-40% of all mortality due to air pollution.Changeover to coal of CHPs, which have shortstacks and are located inside residential areas, isunacceptable unless up-to-date coal burningtechnologies are used.More efficient coal burning andreduction of its impact on the environmentand public health are increasingly important.The share of coal in Russia’s fuel balance isexpected to rise significantly in the near futuredue to large coal deposits, particularly in theheavily industrialized Kuzbass. Increasedimportance of coal in the country’s powerindustry must be accompanied byintroduction of new, environmentally friendlytechnologies.Future development of the fuel & energysector must take account of social and economicconditions of the Russian population. Sectorgrowth depends on modernization of power88 National Human Development Report in the Russian Federation 2009