Irina Tsurina, head of Analytical Department of PRopaganda Center of Communication Technologies

– It seems that the reformation of the Russian nuclear industry was a success

In 2009 the Government of Russia will allocate almost $4.5bln for the support of the national nuclear industry, Vice Premier of Russia-Head of the Staff of the Government of Russia Sergey Sobyanin said during Atomexpo forum. He said that nuclear energy was one of the key priorities of the Russia-Europe cooperation. Director General of Rosatom Sergey Kiriyenko said that despite its focus on national equipment Rosatom was open for international partnership and was ready to take part in international projects on parity basis. Rosatom supposes that the demand for electricity will be restored in no earlier than two years and, therefore, is revising its NPP construction plans: now, we are planning to start building two reactors a year in 2014–2015.

Atomexpo 2009 has shown that the nuclear industry has suffered from the crisis less than the other energy sectors have. Rosatom’s plans show that the reformation of the nuclear industry is over and, now, it is becoming a long-term customer for the national machine building sector. The nuclear industry is recipient of big state subsidies and cooperation with it is a guarantee of production, financing and employment.

The general industrial decline has caused a drop in energy consumption and Rosatom is forced to revise its schedules. But Rosatom is doing it not because it has problems: it is just adjusting its plans to the demand. In the regions where energy consumption is growing Rosatom is ready to speed up its projects: Volgodonsk Nuclear Power Plant.

The declining NPP construction rates at home are compensated for by Rosatom’s active work on the international market: it has signed contracts with Siemens and Chubu Electric and has returned to Latin America.

It seems that the reformation of the nuclear industry – a rare occurrence in Russia – was a success and, now, this sector is able to support the national industry and the reputation of Russian companies on the international arena.