Vladimir Zhidkikh, member of Nuclear Energy Sub-Committee of Federation Council of Russia

– 2008 saw start of new NPP construction projects in Russia

Established in the summer 2007, Atomenergprom OJSC is now summing up the results of its first year. The company has been developing against the background of the large-scale reformation of the nuclear sector. The holding is supposed to consolidate the efforts of all civilian nuclear companies in order to effectively implement the large-scale NPP construction program and to promote Russian high technologies on the international market.

The year 2008 saw the launch of new NPP construction projects in Russia. Despite the current crisis the program to develop the nuclear industry will certainly be fulfilled. Rosatom deals with a quite different time logic and can neglect passing challenges. The nuclear industry is not afraid of the temporary financial difficulties that may prove fatal for other industries. That’s why, while most Russian companies are reducing their expenses, Rosatom is concluding multi-billion contracts. Particularly, Atomenergoprom OJSC is planning to buy equipment for Novovoronezh NPP-2 and Leningrad NPP-2 worth a total of 15bln RUR.

It should be noted that the regions that are supposed to build NPPs will be able to fully use their capacities and to provide people with highly paid jobs for years ahead. For example, in Seversk, Tomsk region, local companies are impatiently waiting for the tenders as contracts will help them to overcome the crisis. Many governors have realized that NPP construction projects are a guarantee of social-economic stability and are now fighting for the right to host nuclear reactors.