OREANDA-NEWS. October 15, 2007. First Vice Premier of Russia Sergey Ivanov visited the leading power machinery builders of Russia, ZiO Podolsk and Hydropress Experimental Design Bureau.

During a meeting with the managers of the plants Ivanov said that the nuclear industry should become a universal means for meeting the growing demands of not only the industry but also the social sector – i.e. a means for ensuring enlarged construction. “Today, we are building a lot but are facing problems with networks. As a result, the housing prices are growing. That’s exactly what the construction of nuclear power plants is one of our key priorities,” Ivanov said.

In 2005 the capacity factor of NPPs made up 71%, in 2006 – 75%, as of today 76%. “This is not bad especially as the safety index is stably high. In the last five years we have had no single above zero INES incident at our nuclear power plants. All the incidents we have had so far were insignificant for safety.”

“This year we have started to pave the way for the future of our nuclear industry: we have established Atomenergoprom, a holding that is supposed to consolidate the assets of the civil sector, and are actively preparing our state enterprises for corporization. Our next step is the establishment of Rosatom state corporation.”

“Our nuclear industry needs new nuclear power plants. This year we have launched the construction of the 1st unit of Novovoronezh NPP-2. We are preparing for the construction of Leningrad NPP-2 and are building the 2nd unit of Volgodonsk NPP and the 4th units of Beloyarsk and Kalinin NPPs. And this is just the beginning.”

Ivanov discussed with the managers of ZiO Podolsk and Hydropress the problems of financing, production and personnel training. “The Rosatom state corporation should have its own personnel training system – you should start training your personnel on your own,” Ivanov said. 

He said that in 2008 the Government is going to invest in the nuclear power industry 51bln RUR, in 2009 – 90bln RUR. “18bln RUR has been allocated this year under the Federal Target Program for the Development of the Nuclear Industry in 2007–2015. 10bln RUR has already been spent. In the coming years we are planning to increase our allocations.”

“Today, Russia is building a total of 12 nuclear power units at home and abroad – this is a record. We have never built so many units at one time – even during the Soviet times,” Ivanov said.