Irina Tsurina, Head of Analytical Department of PRopaganda

– Construction of NPP is always a stimulus for economic growth of a region and its social development

Nizhniy Novgorod NPP project was presented in Nizhniy Novgorod Dec 19 2008. Governor of Nizhniy Novgorod region Valery Shantsev, Head of Department for Contacts with Public Organizations and Regions Igor Konyshev, Deputy Director General-Director for Development of Energoatom Concern OJSC Dmitry Tveritinov, Director General of VNIIAES Sergey Boyarkin, Director of Nizhniy Novgorod Atomenergoproekt Valery Limarenko attended the presentation. The designers said that the project would cost 268.7bln RUR. The plant will have four 1,150MW reactors. The 1st unit will be launched in 2016, the 2nd unit — in 2018, the 3rd unit — in 2019, the 4th unit — in 2020.

I perfectly understand the aspiration of Nizhniy Novgorod region to build an own nuclear power plant. In the last decade many Russian regions have faced energy crisis and consequent economic declined. The energy shortage in Nizhniy Novgood region is steadily growing: if today it is 1GW, in 2015 it will be 2.1GW-2.5GW. Even if they build a 1.2GW NPP by 2016, it will cover only half of the shortage.

The construction of a nuclear power plant is always a stimulus for economic growth of a region and its social development: it creates jobs, infrastructure, solves energy problems, improves investment climate and boosts industry. So, the launch of such a big project (the estimated cost of the construction is 268.7bln RUR) inspires optimism in the face of crisis. In fact, NPP construction can become the very impulse that will fuel the growth of the whole economy. As soon as the economy gets stable, the regions that will be able to ensure more comfortable conditions for their manufacturing enterprises will get more profit.