Sergey Komarov, deputy director of Institute for Energy Development of Regions

– It is difficult to overestimate the importance of the start of the NovNPP-2 project

If we remember how many people were skeptical about the prospect of the federal nuclear energy development program, the start of the Novovovoronezh NPP-2 project will look as a victory over doubts and fears. What will this project give us? — one more big ecologically safe power facility in one of the central regions of Russia. If we remember how many territories have been flooded by WPPs, how much harm TPPs are causing to the environment, NPPs will seem a panacea for many ecological problems.

On the other hand, even though Russia still has gas, experts say that it will suffice us for 30–50 years, at longest. Alternative fuels, like bio-fuel or wind power, will not be able to replace the traditional energy sources in the near future. Besides, they have turned out to be ecologically unsafe. Thus, NPPs will be the only safe energy source for humankind in the coming 200 years.

As regards the topicality of the project, today many Russian regions need new energy sources. We need it urgently or we may face economic stagnation. Second, NovNPP-2, just like the other new NPPs, will give jobs to thousands of people and dozens of regional companies. As far as I know, the parties to the project are considering involving regional contractor organizations in the project and solving the social problems of the specialists that will come to build the units.