Oleg Kuznetsov, Director General of Experimental Institute of RUIB

– Our victory in the tender for the construction of NPP in Bulgaria proves that we can preserve markets in the countries we are losing economically

Director General of the Experimental Institute of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Businessmen Oleg Kuznetsov has commented to journalists on the key results of the past year for the Russian nuclear power sector

«In my opinion, the key achievement in the nuclear power sector this year is the adoption of a new strategy of its development and the understanding and the commitment of the Russian authorities, particularly, the President to implement this strategy. Remember the words of the President that Russia should not rely on gas only and should use other sources. One of the key sources is certainly nuclear energy. And it is quite right that its share in the total energy production must be increased.»

The understanding of the general energy problems and the adoption of right decisions is a very important achievement for the energy sector, in general, and the nuclear power industry, in particular. The world experience proves that it is really necessary to develop the nuclear power sector.

Speaking of the allocations for the sphere, I would like to point out that they must be used effectively. Certainly, in any state the nuclear power sector is in the focus of the government’ s attention, but still it is necessary to use private-state partnership in non-military spheres, such as machine building. If we do this, we will be able to effectively spend the huge money allocated for the sphere. In other words, such sectors as high-tech machine building and innovations should involve business; the state support — even under big financing — is not enough.
 
The establishment of the first international center for uranium enrichment on the basis of Angara ECF has vividly shown that as soon as the authorities really understand the necessity of action they act.

I would like to note our victory in the tender for the construction of the Belene NPP in Bulgaria. Such achievements in the nuclear power industry in the zone we are losing economically — I mean Eastern Europe, who is oriented towards EEC — proves that we can preserve markets and develop economic activities and contacts there.

Now the authorities are moving in the right direction, they have necessary capacities and quite a strong managing team. All this will allow to keep up the rate of energy capacities building stipulated by the Federal Target Program «Development of the Nuclear