Export Revenues of Russian Atomic Energy Ministry May Rise up to $3 bln in 2003

Export revenues of the Russian Ministry of Atomic Energy must increase up to $3 bln in 2003, Russian Minister for Atomic Energy Alexander Rumyantsev said at his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin on Tuesday. "At our estimates, export revenues will increase up to $3 bln in 2003 as compared to $2.6 bln in 2002," Alexander Rumyantsev reported.

He pointed out that the revenues would be used to "increase safety of nuclear power stations and to implement new technologies as well as to settle environmental issues." Alexander Rumyantsev informed Vladimir Putin about the branch's development. "It is developing steadily and dynamically," the Russian Atomic Energy Minister said. He stressed that all parameters exceeded those of 2002 by 5-15 per cent. Alexander Rumyantsev said that at present, the priority of the branch was to complete construction of the third power unit of the Kalininskaya nuclear power station, charge it and put it into operation. "We will carry out this task, nothing is in our way," the minister said.

According to Alexander Rumyantsev, all equipment at the Kalininskaya nuclear power station is licensed, certified and meets the international safety requirements. Rumyantsev added that, according to international standards, although the power station's new unit would be tested during 7-10 months it would produce electric current.