Alexander Perov, leading expert of the National Energy Security Foundation

– Construction and operation of a big facility like NPP will stimulate the economic and social development of the region

According to the results of the survey held by the Nizhniy Novgorod branch of the Sociology Institute in Navashino district in Aug 2009, almost 60% of the local residents support the construction of Nizhniy Novgorod NPP if their proposals and demands are considered. Only 17.9% object to the project pointblank. 24.7% have no opinion on the matter.

Sept 4 the public of Navashino district of Nizhniy Novgorod region expressed support for the project.

The construction and operation of a big facility like nuclear power plant will certainly stimulate the economic and social development of Nizhniy Novgorod region. This project is not just a source of more tax revenues but a stimulus for the whole regional economy. It will create lots of new jobs and will catalyze the activity in the construction and transportation sectors.

Let’s not forget that Nizhniy Novgorod region was short of energy and this shortage was a big obstacle to its economic development. The project will benefit not only the population of Nizhniy Novgorod but also the residents of the neighboring regions. Vladimir region, which is also suffering from energy shortages, will get almost 1/3 of the energy to be produced by Nizhniy Novgorod NPP. This project will help the construction sector to survive the crisis: it will give lots of jobs to local constructors and will thereby prevent possible social tensions.

Nizhniy Novgorod NPP is a serial project. A similar project is presently being implemented at Novovoronezh NPP-2. The general designer is Nizhniy Novgorod Atomenergoproekt (part of Atomenergoprom), the owner is Energoatom Concern OJSC (100% subsidiary of Atomenergoprom OJSC).

The plant will have two 1,170MW reactors and will generate over 17bln KWh a year and employ as many as 1,000 people. At the peak time the construction will involve as many as 8,000 people. The 1st reactor is supposed to be launched in 2017. The plant will be situated in Navashino district of Nizhniy Novgorod region.

The analysis of the power and capacity balance in Nizhniy Novgorod region has shown that in 2007 the region was short of 1,800MW while in 2020 it will need as much as 4,000MW.

This is a socially significant project: it will give the region 40bln RUR in profit tax, 50bln RUR in property tax, 1bln RUR in land tax and 50bln RUR in transport tax.