MOSCOW, September 29 (Itar-Tass) —— By 2030 the share of nuclear power generation in Russia is expected to grow by 25-27 percent.
According to Rosatom Head Sergei Kiriyenko, “the construction of new nuclear generating capacities should match the growth of demand for electricity.”
In the next 15 years, Rosatom plans to build 28 to 36 nuclear reactors, Kiriyenko said.
“It is not reasonable to extend the service life of some reactors [in Russia], especially of those from the previous generation,” he explained.
Currently operating RBMK reactors need to be replaced at the Leningrad, Smolensk and Kursk nuclear power plants. The current share of nuclear power in Russia’s energy production is about 16.5 percent.
Kiriyenko said earlier that atomic energy should be safe for people and affordable for everyone.
In his opinion, “There is no alternative to atomic energy and it will develop by all means.”
However he believes that it should be “absolutely safe” and this will require “changes to international legislation”.
The civil nuclear energy sector is living through a period of “renaissance”, he said.
“We have heard of revival in the nuclear energy industry for several years. But these words are taken in a special way today because they have passed the test of crisis,” Kiriyenko said.
“Leading politicians are talking about the revival of nuclear energy again. And, most importantly, nuclear energy development programmes have not been changed in any of the countries that have announced them,” he said. “It will be impossible to ensure energy security for sustainable development in the world and at the same time its environmental security in the next several decades without developing nuclear energy.”
“This means that the number of nuclear power plants under construction and the number of countries making decisions on the development of nuclear energy will continue growing every day,” Kiriyenko said.
Rosatom is planning to construct seven or eight floating nuclear power plants by 2015. After many years of promoting the idea, Rosatom approved construction of a nuclear power plant on a barge to supply power and heat to isolated coastal towns. The contract to build the first unit was given to the Sevmash shipyard in May 2006, but in August 2008 Rosatom cancelled the contract and transferred construction to the Baltiysky Zavod shipyard in St Petersburg.