Yuri Lipatov, deputy of State Duma, Chairman of Energy Committee

– Nuclear power engineering will be the most stable industry during the crisis as it is a national sector

The share of nuclear power plants in total energy production in Russia must be increased to 25%-30% despite the financial crisis, Prime Minister of Russia Vladimir Putin said during a conference on nuclear energy at Kalinin Nuclear Power Plant in Tver region. He said that under the crisis this task needs special attention. Putin also granted Rosatom’s request for additional capitalization worth 50bln RUR.

I think that nuclear power engineering will be the most stable industry during the crisis as it is a national sector. Geographically, our nuclear industry is situated in European Russia, where energy consumption is stable. Today, use of energy is declining but in the European part of our country the decline is not significant. In Moscow, St.Petersburg and Belgorod there is no decline at all. The key energy source of European Russia is nuclear energy. So, it is quite natural that nuclear energy is given national priority.

I believe that the energy “road map” (program for developing energy sector till 2020) adopted by the Government in Feb 2008 is an interesting fundamental project and a very promising plan of action in the energy sector. No wonder that this program is called the “second plan of GOELRO” (the State Committee on Electrification of Russia set up in 1917 for controlling the process of electrification of Soviet Russia).

This program envisages a 80% increase in the volume of power generating capacities. The decline in energy consumption is an objective factor. In response, the Government has revised the program. Particularly, a few days ago it has presented a sequestrated scenario of power networks and plants development.

Today, we must pay more attention to our power sector. Presently, it can meet some 80% of the needs of our industry. As regards power generation, here we don’t have big choice: we have 3–4 plants that make boilers and turbines and under present conditions they can well cope with their tasks.

They will not be left without work. Our goal now is to get reoriented to national producers. A week ago our committee held a meeting and representatives of the Federal Network Company made a very interesting report. We urged power companies to get actively involved in this program. On the other hand, our task is to maximally employ our national industry, on the other hand, we must not admit appearance of monopolies as we all know how such things end. The Government has formulated its tasks: they are clear, specific and realistic.