You are here -allRefer - Reference - Country Study & Country Guide - Soviet Union USSR >

allRefer Reference and Encyclopedia Resource

allRefer    
allRefer
   


-- Country Study & Guide --     

 

Soviet Union (USSR)

 
Country Guide
Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Angola
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belize
Bhutan
Bolivia
Brazil
Bulgaria
Cambodia
Chad
Chile
China
Colombia
Caribbean Islands
Comoros
Cyprus
Czechoslovakia
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Estonia
Ethiopia
Finland
Georgia
Germany
Germany (East)
Ghana
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hungary
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Israel
Cote d'Ivoire
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Latvia
Laos
Lebanon
Libya
Lithuania
Macau
Madagascar
Maldives
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mexico
Moldova
Mongolia
Nepal
Nicaragua
Nigeria
North Korea
Oman
Pakistan
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russia
Saudi Arabia
Seychelles
Singapore
Somalia
South Africa
South Korea
Soviet Union [USSR]
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Syria
Tajikistan
Thailand
Turkmenistan
Turkey
Uganda
United Arab Emirates
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yugoslavia
Zaire

Soviet Union [USSR]

Obstacles to Power Supply

In the late 1980s, the Soviet power industry was far behind its planned expansion rate. Technology was not available for on-site burning of low-quality coal, nor for transmitting the power it would generate across the huge distances required. Moreover, the 1986 nuclear accident at Chernobyl' cast doubts on the reliability of the nuclear reactor models chosen to supply power to industrial centers in the European part of the Soviet Union. As in the case of fuels, planners faced long-term, irreversible choices among power sources.

Soviet nuclear and thermoelectric generation has relied heavily on unproven equipment and long-distance delivery systems, whose failure could slow operations in major industries. For example, the Chernobyl' incident resulted in major disruption of the industrial power supply. Although switching techniques could sometimes avoid long-term slowdowns, no permanent alternative power source existed if nuclear power failed in the European part of the Soviet Union. Meanwhile, in the late 1980s construction of new nuclear plants fell far behind schedule, and a 30 percent shortfall was expected in 1990 generation. Because hydroelectric stations fell behind in the same period, an added burden fell on thermoelectric facilities. Environmental concerns also caused local opposition to new nuclear and hydroelectric plants during this period.

Data as of May 1989


Soviet Union [USSR] - TABLE OF CONTENTS


Go Up - Top of Page

Make allRefer Reference your HomepageAdd allRefer Reference to your FavoritesGo to Top of PagePrint this PageSend this Page to a Friend


Information Courtesy: The Library of Congress - Country Studies


Content on this web site is provided for informational purposes only. We accept no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by any person resulting from information published on this site. We encourage you to verify any critical information with the relevant authorities.

 

 

 
 


About Us | Contact Us | Terms of Use | Privacy | Links Directory
Link to allRefer | Add allRefer Search to your site

©allRefer
All Rights reserved. Site best viewed in 800 x 600 resolution.