OREANDA-NEWS. March 27, 2009.  President of the Commerce and Industry Chamber of Russia Yevgeny Primakov has visited Balakovo NPP.

President of the Commerce and Industry Chamber of the Russian Federation Yevgeny Primakov visited Balakovo Nuclear Power Plant on Mar 25 2009 in the framework of his tour of Saratov region and on the occasion of the conduct of a seminar-conference of the heads of regional commerce and industry chambers and business association on anti-corruption cooperation.

Primakov met with Director of Balakovo NPP Viktor Ignatov, who told him about the plant’s performance in 2008 (Balakovo Nuclear Power Plant is the biggest producer of electricity in Russia. In 2008 it generated 31.4bln KWh – 102.5% more than planned).

Primakov was glad to know that the plant paid almost as much taxes to the local budget as it paid to the federal one, which proves the high social responsibility of the company.

Primakov visited the power house and the control panel of the 2nd unit. He was accompanied by Ignatov and Governor of Saratov region Pavel Ipatov, who is former director of Balakovo NPP. Ipatov said that for three consecutive years Balakovo NPP had won the “Best Nuclear Power Plant of Russia” competition and was a real foundry of talents for the national nuclear industry. Today, its former employees work in the Central Office of Energoatom Concern and manage Novovoronezh and Smolensk NPPs.  

“It was my first visit to a nuclear power plant and I am really impressed!” Primakov said. He presented Ignatov with the medal of the Commerce and Industry Chamber of Russia. This medal is granted to heads of companies and organizations for their special contribution to the development of business and management and for professional qualities they display in the process of economic reforms.

In Balakovo Primakov attended in the 5th Congress of the Commerce and Industry Chamber of Saratov region.