OREANDA-NEWS. July 29, 2008. Almost 1trl RUR will be budgeted for nuclear power industry by 2015, Prime Minister of Russia Vladimir Putin said during a conference on development of the nuclear power sector.

“By 2015 we are planning to budget a huge sum – almost one trillion of rubles – for the development of our nuclear power industry,” Putin said.

He pointed out that the money had to be spent most effectively. He said that only big structures were competitive for the moment. That’s exactly why Rosatom State Nuclear Energy Corporation has been formed. This corporation is meant to solve both civil and defense tasks. The newly established Atomenergoprom holding has consolidated the whole technological chain from uranium mining and fuel production to NPP construction and electricity generation. “This consolidation fully meets our present needs,” Putin said.

He pointed out that today the share of NPPs in Russia’s total energy production is just 16% while in many developed countries it amounts to 38%. In France it is much higher.

Russia has a unique chance to bring its nuclear industry to the world level.

Rosatom owns 40% of the world uranium enrichment capacities. Each sixth reactor in the world works on Russian fuel. Today, Russia is building seven nuclear reactors and is about to launch new projects. At the same time, the country needs to create a network infrastructure as some projects were delayed exactly because of lack of infrastructure. “I would like to ask you to consider this aspect in the general scheme for allocation of power facilities,” Putin said.