Todd Allen, Associate professor, Engineering Physics Department, University of Wisconsin, USA:

— Russia, as one of the world leaders in nuclear technology, will continue to play an important role. This role includes continued expansion of domestic nuclear electricity production based on light water reactor technology, as well as advanced reactor development such as the fast reactor work typified by the BN-600

Todd Allen, Associate professor, Engineering Physics Department, University of Wisconsin, USA:

Events throughout 2009 all continue to point toward an increasing recognition of the importance of nuclear energy in providing carbon free electrical power. Countries with previously established phase out plans, like Italy and Sweden are reconsidering nuclear energy, while countries with no recent new builds, like the United Kingdom and the United States are moving forward with plans for new plants. China, France, and Finland are all building new plants and countries with no previous history with nuclear energy, like the United Arab Emirates, have plans to build nuclear power generation plants.

Important events to watch in 2010 are:

1) Will the Areva-built plants at Okiluoto, Finland and Flammanville, France progress at a sufficient pace to give confidence that new plants can be built in the west in a reasonable time and budget

2) Will funding paths for new plants in the United Kingdom and United States be established

3) How successful will China continue to be with their aggressive plans for new plants

4) What will be the fate of the plans, to date led by South Africa, to build pebble bed reactors

5) What decisions will Germany make regarding nuclear energy production

Russia, as one of the world leaders in nuclear technology, will continue to play an important role. This role includes continued expansion of domestic nuclear electricity production based on light water reactor technology, as well as advanced reactor development such as the fast reactor work typified by the BN-600.

. Russia has also established an important role in international fuel supply through the international fuel bank and consideration of reprocessing services. As an international vendor of reactor technology, Russia’s collaborations with Toshiba, Siemens, Alstom, and MHI will place it in the center of much of the worldwide nuclear growth.