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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
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