Igor Igoshin, State Duma deputy

– Nuclear power industry modernization program has entered into practical phase

The vice chairman of the State Duma Committee on Budget and Taxes Igor Igoshin believes that the launch of the construction of a new unit at Novovoronezh NPP is a significant event. “It means that the nuclear power industry modernization program has entered into a practical stage. This project is a serious step towards preventing a serious energy crisis in European Russia,” says Igoshin.

The new unit will allow to significantly increase the electricity production in Voronezh region. Today, Novovoronezh NPP produces almost 90% of the region’s energy. This is the first project since the end of the Soviet times that has been started from zero. Over 3bln RUR will be allocated for the unit till the end of this year. The period of construction is five years.

“New NPPs are much better than the old ones: they are built quicker and operate for longer periods, they are safer and meet the European standards. All this will help us to continue active NPP construction abroad,” says Igoshin.

Igoshin says that with the increase of NPP output Russia may start exporting electricity; but this is not a priority. “Our priority is to modernize our nuclear power industry, to satisfy the needs of own economy and to organize “serial” NPP production. In such a case, the key segments of the export will be NPP construction and fuel supply. Russia must seek to export not cheap electricity but expensive high-tech solutions,” says Igoshin.

As was reported earlier, Rosatom is planning to increase the share of NPPs in total energy production to 25% by 2020 and 30% for later period and for this purpose to build 26 nuclear power units by 2020.