Vladimir Zhidkikh, member of Federation Council

– In the near very future we will be able to carry out structural reforms in the industry

On Oct 11 State Duma approved the first reading of the bill on the Rosatom state nuclear energy corporation, submitted by the President on Oct 2. The new structure is supposed to replace the Federal Agency for Nuclear Energy.

“The law will help us to consolidate all segments of the nuclear industry. This law is extremely important for our country. We have to implement a large-scale development program and for this purpose we need to reform the structure of the power industry, particularly, by increasing the share of nuclear power production. We are facing very ambitious tasks and the existing structure is not able to solve them. The first reading of the bill has shown that most of the MPs approve of this program. So, I think that the bill will be adopted very soon and we will be able to carry out the reforms. We have to solve the problem of equipment and to enhance the efficiency of NPP construction. We also have a very urgent problem of young personnel recruitment and training. Already today we can see an inflow of youths into the sphere. We have adopted a tunnel law, have made a very profitable contract for the import of Australian uranium, we are building new plants both at home and abroad. Rosatom state corporation will certainly become one of the world economic leaders and will be a strong rival on the market of nuclear technologies. By consolidating the efforts of different segments of the nuclear industry we will be able to strengthen our positions and to improve the general economic situation in the country.”

The bill says that the corporation will have special reserve funds for financing nuclear and radiation safety projects. The Corporation will be given the shares of nuclear joint stock companies, Atomenergoprom holding and the federal state unitary enterprises owned by the Federal Agency for Nuclear Energy.