Sergey Loparyov, Director of VNIIA

– We have chosen right strategy for developing our nuclear power industry

During a conference on nuclear energy development in Elektrostal on July 29 2008 Prime Minister of Russia Vladimir Putin said that it was necessary to quickly prepare proposals for establishing a National Nuclear University of the basis of Moscow Physics Engineering Institute. He said that the development of effective personnel training systems was crucial for the nuclear sector.

The idea to establish a National Nuclear University mentioned by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin implies consolidation of all leading nuclear universities and their educational and experimental capacities into one holding. Such consolidation will certainly improve the quality of nuclear education. By consolidating the experimental capacities of the universities we will be able to actively involve them in specific projects. VNIIA (All-Russian Research Institute of Automatics) closely cooperates with all leading universities of Moscow and MEPhI, in particular. Each year we enroll 50 students and graduates in our research and development activities.

In Mar 2008 we adopted a schedule of joint work stipulating our direct involvement in the development of the institute’s curricula. All MEPhI students come to VNIIA for probation and we provide them with a 15,000 RUR scholarship. Probation helps them to show their capacities and to adapt themselves to their future staff. Our initial salary for newcomers is 30,000 RUR a month. I think that this is quite an effective way to attract young specialists.

VNIIA has a whole scientific-industrial system for designing and manufacturing automated control systems for the nuclear and thermal power plants that are being modernized or built for the moment. Presently, we can produce equipment for three nuclear reactors a year, which is quite enough for the federal target program stipulating the construction of 26 nuclear reactors in 12 years (2 reactors a year). I am sure that we will do our part of work and will even be able to produce more if need be.

For the moment, we are expecting to receive a package proposal for manufacturing equipment for eight nuclear reactors: the 4th unit of Kalinin NPP, BN-800 of Beloyarsk NPP, two units of Leningrad NPP-2, two units of Novovoronezh NPP-2 and two units of Rostov NPP.

In the mid 1990s our nuclear sector was having hard times but we were far-seeing enough to start this work despite hardships and are reaping the fruits today. I think that we have chosen the right strategy for developing our nuclear industry and the present reforms will result in its sustainable development.