Konstantin Zaycev, vice chairman of State Duma Committee on Energy and chairman of Sub-Committee on Nuclear Energy

– Today Russia and Czech Republic have a whole number of finished and ongoing projects

In the last two years Russia has returned some of its traditional markets: Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe. The last region is especially important for us. Once Socialist countries today Western European states are full members of the European Union. So, by restoring our cooperation with them we are entering Europe.

Today, we are actively considering the possibility of intensifying our cooperation with Czech nuclear companies. We already have a number of finished and ongoing projects.

In the field of nuclear equipment construction, we have successfully partnership of Atomenergomash and Arako, Czech producers of pipeline fittings for nuclear power plants. The products of Arako will be used not only in Russia and, probably, under Belene NPP project.

In the field of fuel supplies, I would like to point out the victory of TVEL. In 2010 it will start supplying fuel of Czech Temelin NPP.

Our key partnership is the joint participation of Atomstroyexport and Skoda in the tender for completing the construction of Mohovce NPP in Slovakia. If we win this time we will certainly continue this partnership.

As regards the future, we have a number of interests. First of all, we may cooperate in the field of nuclear equipment construction (we have similar technologies and standards). We are also interested in the Czech fuel market. The Czech Republic might be involved in the International Uranium Enrichment Center project, i.e. the Czechs would be able to buy enrich uranium bought from a third country at the Angarsk center and order fuel at TVEL companies.

We are also interested in the capacities of Czech research institutes, particularly, in Rez Nuclear Research Institute. That institute might fulfill orders under projects to modernize existing and to build new nuclear power plants. Particularly, it might help to enhance the capacity of NPPs.