Aleksey Grigoryev, Director General of Techsnabexport OJSC

– Today, we meet 30% of world reactors’ demand for uranium enrichment services

Russian uranium products and uranium enrichment services are supplied to almost all countries developing nuclear energy. In 2007 Russia’s uranium exports have grown by 1/3 as compared with 2006, while the portfolio of contracts for supply of uranium enrichment products and services – by almost 15%.

The development of Russia’s export potential is the key guarantee of the country’s economic safety under open market economy conditions. The export of Russian uranium products has almost the same influence on the world’s energy balance as the export of natural gas and oil does. The role and the place of Russia in the world depend on the quality of its products. Even though Russia is behind the world’s leading powers on the high-tech market, it has preserved its leading positions in the export of products and services of nuclear fuel cycle. In this field our products are highly competitive.

The key competitive advantages of our nuclear industry are complete nuclear fuel cycle, highly effective centrifuge technologies, high research and production potential and, certainly, big operating experience on the world market.

Today, even despite over 15 years of antidumping restrictions in the US and Europe, we meet 30% of the world reactors’ demand for uranium enrichment services. We are working hard to overcome restrictions in Europe. Over 85% of US energy companies insist that the US market should be opened for Russian uranium products. Presently, together with the US Department of Commerce, we have drafted an amendment to the Agreement Suspending the Antidumping Investigation on Uranium from the Russian Federation.

Today, the world community is beginning to regard us as an absolutely open society with transparent civil sector, represented by Atomenergoprom, and an absolutely clear state corporation – a new model of Soviet-time Minsredmash for acting under market conditions.