OREANDA-NEWS. April 20, 2007. A roundtable “Nuclear Energy: Ecology and Quality of Life” took place in the State Duma on Apr 18 2007. The roundtable was held in the framework of the finals of the 5th International Contest “Energy of the Future-2007”

Attending the event were deputies of the State Duma Valentin Ivanov and Pyotr Romanov, the rector of Nuclear Academy Boris Krupnov, professor of the Institute of Bio-Physics, member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Angelina Kuskova as well as the finalists of the Energy of the Future 2007 from different regions of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.

The key objective of the roundtable was to discuss the role of nuclear energy for the resolution of global problems, particularly, for ecological safety and high quality of life in Russia and the world. Presently, the world is experiencing a nuclear energy renaissance. Many countries have already reviewed their approach to nuclear energy and have begun to actively build new NPPs. Today, nuclear energy is given a big role in the social-economic development of Russia. The Federal Target Program “Development of the Nuclear Power Complex of Russia in 2007–2010 and –2015” stipulates that starting from 2012 the capacities of the Russian NPPs should be raised by 2 GW and from 2014 – by 3 GW a year. By 2020 the total capacity of the Russian NPPs should amount to 40 GW.

The new NPP deployment scheme, which is to be considered by the Government on Apr 19 2007, will cover not only traditional regions in the European part of Russia but also new economically developing zones. The construction of NPPs in remote areas of the Far North, Siberia and Far East will enhance the living standard and will boost industrial growth in those regions. This will allow to preserve the unity of the Russian Federation and to ensure its national strategic interests.

While opening the roundtable, Valentin Ivanov said: “Today, energy and energy sources are becoming an important factor of the global politics: the most vivid example of that is the situation over Iran and Iraq.” “I believe that nuclear and renewable energies are the energies of the future.”

Some of the finalists made reports on the problem. Anton Abramov from Moscow said: “Today nuclear energy is the basis of the energy security of Russia. I am sure that nuclear power engineering is safe and should be developed.” Kira Fomina from Seversk reported on the use of radioactive waste treatment systems in agriculture. Denis Markov reported on the use of isotopes in medicine and on nuclear medicine projects in Zarechny. “I would like to study this problem and to continue the cause of my father,” he said. Arseny Blagoveschensky spoke about “The Role of PR Technologies in the Resolution of the Social-Economic Problems of the Nuclear Power Sector.”

Summing up the results of the roundtable, Ivanov said: “Presently, we are ahead of the US in global nuclear energy development. Russia, just like the UK and France, is transiting to the closed fuel cycle, which is the most progressive direction in the sphere.”

The key goals of the contest are to reveal talented youths wishing to master a wide spectrum of professions in the nuclear power industry and to help students in their professional education and personal development by involving them in scientific-education projects under supervision of nuclear power professionals.