Bato-Zhargal Zhambalnimbuyev, member of Federation Council Sub-Committee on Nuclear Energy

– Russia and Europe are moving in the same direction in the energy sector

On May 21 Governor of Tomsk region Viktor Kress has given his consent to the allocation of two units of Seversk Nuclear Power Plant in the territory of the region.

The Government of Italy is planning to start the construction of nuclear power plants, reports AFP with reference to Economic Development Minister of Italy Claudio Scajola. This marks the end of 22 years of boycott of nuclear energy in Italy. Bloomberg reports that the first project will be started within the next five years. Scajola says that NPPs will allow Italy to produce cheap electricity without polluting the environment.

Russia and Europe are moving in the same direction in the energy sector. But if we have already started a large-scale federal program for developing our nuclear sector and have already announced two specific projects, some European countries are just beginning to consider the possibilities of diversifying their energy sector.

As you may know, in the countries like Italy and Germany there is quite serious opposition to the development of nuclear energy. Nevertheless, we see that today the EU is actively discussing the use of nuclear technologies for meeting its energy demands. This is natural: energy resources are becoming increasing scarce as the consumption of energy and the energy prices are steadily growing. Naturally, the European countries want to have their own rather than imported energy. That’s why Italy, Germany and Greece – the countries who seek leadership in their regions — are moving towards the use of nuclear energy. Italy has grown farther than the other two: its economic development minister Claudio Scajola has said that the construction of the first NPP will be started within the next five years. 

I think that this is a very natural desire as the oil and gas prices are growing and this growth will hardly stop as these types of fuel are in very high demand in Asia and Latin America. Today, many world countries actively use safe and efficient technologies for production of nuclear energy and construction of nuclear power plants. Particularly, the nuclear reactors built by Russia abroad have proved their safety and reliability. That’s why nuclear energy is becoming a worthy rival to oil and gas and a guarantee for many countries against the risk of energy crisis.