Leonid Grigoryev, President of Energy and Finance Institute

– Cooperation with Italy in construction of new nuclear reactors would benefit Rosatom

During the enlarged Russian-Italian consultations that took place in the Kremlin on Nov 6 2008 under the chairmanship of President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister of Italy Silvio Berlusconi, the Ministry of Economic Development of Italy and Rosatom State Nuclear Energy Corporation signed a declaration of intention t cooperate in the field of nuclear and thermal power engineering.

Italy has long been wondering whether to restore its nuclear industry or not. The Italians have finally realized that it is better to build own nuclear power plants than to buy electricity generated by French NPPs. Italy’s energy sector is based on gas: southern regions consume gas exported from Africa, Northern Italy – gas supplied by Gazprom. Still Rome needs nuclear energy especially as today lots of countries are reviewing their attitude towards nuclear power plants (Sweden, England). Even Germany is beginning to consider the possibility of nuclear renaissance. Italy is not going to be a lonely bird and is planning to actively join in.

The question is what to develop and with whom. The choice is not very big as only Russia, the United States and France have relevant experience. In fact, nobody has built anything serious in the last 20 years. France is now building Loviiisa NPP in Finland but this project has already fell years behind the schedule. Whom to cooperate with? With those who have relevant competence and experience. Russia does have such experience due to its participation in Bushehr, Tianwan and Kudankulam projects. Besides, we have preserved more highly-qualified specialists than, say, Areva.

Cooperation with Italy in the field of construction of new nuclear reactors would certainly benefit Rosatom. This is a way for us into the global economy. In Europe it is sometimes hard to come to agreement, especially on such serious problems as nuclear energy. I think that it will be much easier for Italy to agree with Russia.