Dmitry Baranov, senior expert of Finam Management

– One new job in nuclear industry creates ten jobs in related sectors

Public hearings on the environmental impact assessment of the construction of the 3rd and 4th units of Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant-2 took place in Sosnovy Bor (Leningrad region) June 16. Almost 600 people – representatives of the administration and the legislative assembly of Leningrad region, political parties, non-governmental organizations, mass media and manufacturing companies as well as residents of Sosnovy Bor – took part in the discussion.

The plans to build the 3rd and 4th units of Leningrad NPP-2 confirm the government’s commitment to develop nuclear energy despite all crises. This project will benefit Leningrad region and the whole North-Western Russia. The key benefit is that the project will provide jobs to local constructors. New jobs imply additional tax revenues. So, the LNPP-2 project will not just enhance the energy security of the region but will improve its social-economic situation. One new job in the nuclear industry creates ten jobs in related sectors. This is a real salvation for the region in the face of the crisis. So, our people must actively support this project. 

As regards the immediate effects of the project, it will substantially enhance the investment appeal and the industrial capacities of Leningrad region and its neighbors, will improve the energy supply of remote areas and will significantly reduce the impacts of “dirty” sources of energy on the local ecology.
 
Note

The construction of LNPP-2 is part of the federal target program for the development of the energy industry of Russia 2007–2015 approved by the Government of the Russian Federation on Oct 5 2006. The total cost of the project is almost 70bln RUR. The project is analogous to the units built by Russian specialists at Tianwan NPP in China – WWER-1000. The 1st unit is to be launched in 2013.