Pavel Shvedov, senior researcher of Nuclear Safety Institute

– Start of principal stage of Novovoronezh NPP-2 project has marked new phase in the development of Russia’s nuclear industry

The start of the principal stage of the construction of Novovoronezh NPP-2 has marked a new phase in the development of Russia’s nuclear industry. This is a positive moment as we do need nuclear energy and must by no means stop to develop it. Russia has lots of remote territories and nuclear power plants are the best source of energy for them. NPPs have a number of advantages over other power plants – the biggest advantage is that it can be reproduced unlike oil and gas, which are growing increasingly scarce and expensive.

Today, few countries have enough capacities for developing nuclear energy. But for developed countries and for Russia, in particular, this must become a tendency.

Despite active energy efficiency efforts, energy consumption is steadily growing. Alternative energy sources like wind and the sun can meet the needs of small productions only, for example, farms. Of course, we must develop them but in order to meet the needs of big industries, we need more stable and efficient sources. Nuclear energy is the one. Hence, the only way for us to solve the problem of growing energy consumption is to increase the share of NPPs in the total energy production.