Andrey Kislitsyn, Mayor of Zarechny

— The nuclear power sector has the biggest potential for increasing energy production

Mayor of Zarechny (satellite-town of Belopyarsk NPP) Andrey Kislitsyn points out that the nuclear power sector has the biggest potential for increasing energy production.

— Now that the energy consumption is growing much quicker than was forecast (twice as quicker than planned by the energy strategy 2002), NPPs must do their best to solve the problem of looming energy shortfall, says Kislitsyn. The dim forecast of a nationwide energy crisis in 2008 (when aggregate consumption will exceed aggregate generation) may well come true. This means that already today we should take urgent measures to employ the country’s under-used reserves. Rosenergoatom should focus on raising the plant ratio by upgrading reactors.

Kislitsyn believes that Rosenergoatom’s energy efficiency enhancement program is a serious strategic project. «If fully implemented, it will allow us to produce as much energy at existing NPPs as we would produce at 4, 5 new reactors,» he says.

— However, this will require all-out state support. «We must give all we have, well realizing that we will get the new capacities no earlier than in 5–7 years,» says Kislitsyn. He noted that the poor state of the networks is a big obstacle to the development of the nuclear power sector. The situation must be changed drastically and RAO UES should start investing money in the development of the networks, says Kislitsyn.