Valenintin Mezhevich, first vice chairman of Federation Council Committee on Natural Monopolies

– Zubkov’s visit to Elemash has proved that the Government gives high priority to the nuclear sector

First, nuclear power engineering is a high-tech industry oriented towards innovative technologies and, as before, it is one of the state priorities in Russia. Not only because nuclear energy is the key solution to the impending energy crisis but also because it is a stimulus for the development of many inter-related sectors, particularly, power machine building, industrial construction, development of instrumental and experimental base. And, of course, developed nuclear energy will stimulate progress in education and science.

Second, I would like to remind you that Elemash is one of the key fuel producers in Russia. Recently, it has made impressive achievements on the world market. Under a project with AREVA it produces fuel assemblies for nuclear power plants in Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Presently, each 8th nuclear power unit in the world works on fuel produced by Elemash. So, I think that under new prime minister the Russian Government will continue its transition from the export of raw materials to the export of high technologies and high-tech products. And nuclear power industry is one of the sectors that can offer high-tech products.