Russian Economy Minister in favour of nuclear heat supply in cities

Russian Minister for Economic Development and Trade German Gref has described a possibility of using nuclear energy instead of natural gas for heat supply in cities as "promising".

A corresponding project was submitted to the minister on Thursday in Obninsk, a city 75 km south-west of Moscow, where he held a session on development of the scientific city, RIA Novosti learned from the ministry's press service.

Mr. Gref took interest in the project, the press service pointed out. He described it as very interesting and promising.

In the north such projects can start paying after one or two years after introduction, while increase in their numbers will reduce their cost, the minister believes.

At the session scientists told Mr. Gref about the use of neutron therapy to treat cancer.

Such a project should be financed, the minister said, adding that "the Economic Development Ministry will consider a possibility of allocating funds for its fulfilment".

A base for such projects should be financed from the federal budget, but it is also necessary to attract investment in their commercial part, he pointed out.

The programme of developing Obninsk as a scientific city is designed for the period till the end of 2004. Its goal is to recover the city's economy on the whole.

In Obninsk the world's first nuclear power plant was built and put into operation in 1954.