Rosatom delegation visits Angarsk

22.06.2007 // RIA Novosti

Rosatom and Irkutsk region have agreed to cooperate in ecological, social and scientific spheres

On Friday. June 22, Head of Rosatom Sergey Kiriyenko and Governor of Irkutsk region Alexander Tishanin signed an agreement on cooperation in the ecological, social, scientific spheres and tourism. Particularly, the sides will cooperate on radiation and ecological safety: they will conduct ecological examinations and carry out joint projects for the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

The agreement also stipulates wide cooperation for the social protection of the residents of Irkutsk region living in the areas neighboring on nuclear power facilities as well as for the social welfare of the personnel working there.

Rosatom and Irkutsk region will also cooperate on training personnel for the nuclear power industry, developing science and tourism in the region. Particularly, they are going to set up a laboratory for ecological monitoring of the tourist zone in the northern part of Lake Baikal.

During the visit Kiriyenko went to Angarsk Electrolytic Chemical Combine, which serves as a basis for the International Uranium Enrichment Center project. He also met with regional officials and discussed local problems.

During the signing ceremony Kiriyenko said that Angarsk will become a priority site for Russia’s international programs. “We are going to invest over $2.5bln in the city and to create 2,000 additional jobs. AECC is unique because it does not fulfill military orders. It is situated in an open city, it is no longer a closed enterprise and can well be involved in international uranium enrichment projects in the framework of nonproliferation.”

The International Uranium Enrichment Center has been set up in Angarsk on the basis of Angarsk Electrolytic Chemical Combine. The constituted agreement was signed in Oct 2006 by Techsnabexport (Russia) and Kazatomprom (Kazakhstan). This uranium enrichment factory is no longer closed and there are no more legal obstacles to its involvement in international projects, particularly, in the IUEC project. Ukraine has also expressed wish to take part in this project.