Rafael Arutiunian, first deputy director of Nuclear Safety Institute

– New nuclear technologies is a well-judged solution to the problem of sustainable development

The start of the principal stage of the construction of Novovoronezh NPP-2 is one more step towards the successful implementation of the federal target program for the development of the nuclear power industry of Russia in 2007–2010 and –2015. This is a very ambitious program. Its goal is the renaissance of our nuclear power industry. In fact, we are just beginning to revive it after the crisis of the 1990s. The present 16% share of nuclear power plants in our total energy production is a very small figure as compared with other developed countries. The planned 25% is just the first step towards the world level: in Europe, not mentioning Japan, NPPs produce 30%-50% of total energy.

This is a hard task. But our goal is not just to ensure a certain percentage but to guarantee the energy security of our country and its further sustainable development. Here, we need not only to develop our existing thermal reactors but also to introduce new technologies. This is extremely important for solving our strategic tasks. The growing oil and gas prices are urging us to develop nuclear energy.

Today, China, India and South-East Asia are developing so quickly that oil and gas will be hardly enough for them to keep this pace. New technologies, first of all, nuclear technologies, are a well-judged solution to the problem of sustainable development.

Novovoronezh NPP-2 will certainly have a positive effect on the industrial development of the region. But such a facility must not be linked with the needs of one region. Here, we must think strategically.