Sergey Alekseyev, expert of Economic Examination Center of Russia and Europe

– Russian-Czech nuclear cooperation has long history

Our countries have positive experience of joint projects. They have similar research and development standards. This is a good basis for mutually beneficial cooperation. Russia has established Atomenergoprom company not only for building nuclear power plants in its territory but also to consolidate its activities on foreign markets. The company offers foreign partners cooperation in the fields of nuclear fuel cycle (up to participation in the International Uranium Enrichment Center) and construction of nuclear power plants abroad.

The sides are ready to make venture investments in big projects (particularly, in fast-breeder reactors and safety technologies). We also hope to attract investors in uranium mining projects. And we are actively negotiating with Czech companies to this end. One of the best examples is the participation of Atomstroyexport CJSC and Skoda in the tender for completing the construction of Mohovce NPP in Slovakia. If this partnership proves effective, it may be continued under other projects – and not only in Europe. In the field of nuclear equipment construction we have good partnership between Atomenergomash and Arako, Czech producer of pipeline fittings for nuclear power plants. Arako will supply equipment to Russian NPPs, but not only: it may also serve Atomstroyexport’s Belene NPP project in Bulgaria and Mohovce NPP project in Slovakia.

In the field of fuel supplies, our TVEL effectively cooperates with Czech CEZ. For many years TVEL has supplied fuel to Czech Dukovany NPP and in 2010 will start supplying fuel to Temelin NPP. Due to TVEL’s fuel Dukovany has become one of the safest NPPs in Europe. We hope that our fuel will help Temelin to solve its problems.