Official Rejects Rumors On Reorganizing Atomic Concern Into Joint-Stock Venture

Russian Atomic Energy Minister Alexander Rumyantsev rejected information of some mass media sources that the Rosenergoatom atomic concern would be reorganized into a joint-stock venture. The minister had a meeting with journalists today and explained that atomic utilities could not be privatized according to Russian legislation currently in force. He stressed that a unified atomic energy generating company, which would be created on the basis of Rosenergoatom, would have the status of a state unitary enterprise. Answering the question of an RBC correspondent, the minister stated that the infrastructure of atomic stations could not be privatized either because it provided work and security of atomic stations. However, he did not exclude the possibility that some minor atomic utilities, such as canteens and so on may be privatized.