Leonid Bolshov, Director of Nuclear Safety Institute

– Russia needs nuclear reactors of such a quality

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.

The energy shortage in Nizhniy Novgorod region is quickly growing. The region has developed economy and needs relevant energy sources. Of course, the global crisis may cause certain delays but when we remember what a crisis we survived in 1998 this project seems quite realistic. We must not forget that construction of a nuclear power plant is a very long process and I think that we will overcome all the difficulties that may be caused by the crisis in the process of construction.

The key point here is safety. We must build a safe plant and recruit highly professional personnel. The project we are going to apply in Nizhniy Novgorod region is an excellent well-tested project, a project that has already conquered the world. I am sure that Russia needs nuclear reactors of exactly such a quality.