Mr Putin's opening address at the conference:
Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, colleagues.
You see, it is nice that some time ago the State Corporation Rosatom was set up. When was its legal establishment completed?
Sergey Kiriyenko: Legally, Mr Putin, it was established by your Decree On the Transfer of Authority from the Federal Agency to the State Corporation that was signed on March 26.
Vladimir Putin: On the 26th of March the establishment of the new structure, the State Corporation Rosatom, was completed. It was prompted by the necessity to strengthen our competitive advantages in this area, to create new conditions for development, for future prospects. Let's speak about these challenges today - about the prospects for the development of the industry in general and the Corporation in particular.
You see, in recent years the regulatory-legal basis for this sphere has been significantly renewed, a number of important federal targeted programmes have been adopted. Till 2015 it has been planned that the state budget, I'd like to stress the state budget, will allocate ‘terrific' money to boost the development of the atomic power engineering and nuclear industry - almost 1 trillion roubles ($40.68 billion, or €27.6 billion).
Profound structural changes have been carried out. The State Corporation Rosatom, which I have already mentioned, has been created to meet challenges including defence tasks. Also, the integrated company Atomenergoprom has been set up. It has united the whole technological chain - from uranium extraction and fuel production to the construction of nuclear power plants and energy generation. It is worth noting that the stage of transformation has passed without failures, in the framework of sustainable operation mode. And now Mr Kiriyenko proudly informed us about this.
Such consolidation of the industry is in full compliance with today's requirements. The growth of prices for energy resources gives a new chance for the development of nuclear power engineering. Frankly speaking, with hydrocarbons leading in the energy consumption structure so far - and, thank God, we have enough of them - we have a historic chance to give a boost to atomic power engineering, a high-technology area.
Certainly, the intensification of competition results in aggravation of the market situation. Only large and influential players can be successful here. And that was one of the reasons for our decision to set up the State Corporation.
This year Rosatom's explored uranium ore reserves have become the third largest in the world. The Corporation owns 40% of the world's uranium enrichment facilities. Every sixth nuclear reactor in the world works on Russian fuel. Russia is building 5 power generating units abroad and plans to build several more such projects.
In fact, we possess a serious potential which must be used efficiently. And, of course, we must efficiently spend the money allocated by the state. Invest the money to keep and strengthen leading positions in this high-technology market. Certainly, along with meeting our international commitments in the field of peaceful atom cooperation.
And the matter of special importance is the realisation of our own ambitious programme of atomic generation development. There are five projects under construction now, aren't there?
Sergey Kiriyenko: There are already seven construction sites.
Vladimir Putin: There are already seven projects. In fact, work is underway in the seven construction sites. Projects are being developed, technical documents are being designed for the work in the further project sites.
On the whole we shall have to build 26 large energy-generating units in 12 years. This is approximately the same number that was built during the whole Soviet Period. Starting from 2016, nuclear power plants will be built not with budget money, but at the expense of the industry's investment resources. I firmly reckon on this. As a reference let me remind you that now the share of atomic generation in our country is equal to 16%. Is this a lot or a little? This is not much. The share of atomic generation in developed countries is 38% on an average. I do not mention such countries as France, as this number is much more significant there.
For that very reason a large-scale programme has been developed; this programme will require the development of atomic and energy engineering, the development of a conformable construction sector. Also, it is known that nuclear power plants (NPP) work most efficiently under full-load conditions. That's why the country's unified energy system must be ready to accept new facilities. It means that the priority development of the network infrastructure is essential. As we have recollected today, the decisions on some projects were not made in proper time for the reason that the network was unprepared. My request is to include this aspect into the General Scheme of Power Industry Projects' Location.
In addition, in the mid-term we shall have to switch over to a new technology level. I mean a closed fuel cycle and commercial fast neutron reactor development. The Targeted Programme Atomic Energy Technologies of the New Generation must meet this challenge. The development of the Programme should be accomplished by November.
One of the main demands facing the industry is the observance of safety measures. The safety system must be on the highest modern level and correspond to the highest world standards. And, of course, we can't spare money on this. This is not something to economize on.
There has not been a single radiation incident at Russian NPPs in recent years. The number of off-schedule interruptions and breaks has been falling.
According to safety margin criteria we are the second in the world only after Japan, outrunning such countries with developed atomic power engineering as the US, Germany, France and Britain. We shall continue to consider these issues with great attention.
Now I am looking at the table that shows the wages of our nuclear power plant workers. Of course, there has been a striking change for the better in comparison with the mid-90s. Wages grew considerably. It's nice to see this.
Finally, one more key aspect - we have already spoken about it - that of personnel. Since 2006 the average age of atomic sector workers has decreased from 53 to 48 years. That means young people have come to work in the industry, which has good opportunities, becoming more prestigious and attractive for young people. It is also important to develop the system for training skilled workers for the atomic sector. We have discussed this topic - in a short space of time we have to consider the proposal to establish the National Nuclear University on the basis of the Moscow Engineering Physics Institute and 23 other educational institutions of the same profile. They must be united into one integrated system.
This centre should become one of the first research and educational centres in the network of national research universities that is being formed.
To my mind, Rosatom should not only place an order for personnel training at this university, but also participate directly in the development of academic programmes, the standards for educational quality and render the University its assistance in the organisation of internships for students.
And, in the end, as I have already said, to finalise our work at the conference we have to approve the long-term action programme of the State Corporation Rosatom as well as the Regulations specifying the order in which Rosatom's functions are fulfilled.
Let's start working.