Yuri Gagarinsky, director of Center for Scientific Development

– Past year was crucial for Russia’s nuclear industry

The past year was a turning point both in the nuclear industry itself and in the attitude of those responsible for its work. The year was quite eventful: the launch of two new NPP construction projects (the 1st unit of Novovoronezh NPP-2, the 1st unit of Leningrad NPP-2), the restart of the construction of the 2nd unit of Volgodonsk NPP, the 4th unit of Beloyarsk NPP and the 4th unit of Kalinin NPP. So, we have made tangible progress in implementing the Government’s program for large-scale NPP construction.

I would also like to point out the launch of the innovative floating NPP project – a project that has received quite emotional response worldwide. I hope that it will be one of our basic projects in the future.

As a scientist, I would like to point out the start of strategic work: we have started developing a program for creating innovative reactors, reactors of new generation.

We are just beginning to discuss the long-term development strategy. Our present strategy has already gone out of date and we urgently need a new one. If we want to move in the right direction we must urgently start considering our long-term plans.

The past year has become the first year of the new nuclear industry.