Opinion: Nuclear energy industry should be outside politics

Nuclear energy industry should be outside politics and all the contractual obligations must be fulfilled. The statement was made by Kirill Komarov, First Deputy Director General for Development and International Business of the Russian state corporation Rosatom, during the 7th international forum Atomexpo 2015 in Moscow on 1 June, BelTA has learned.

Talking to mass media, Kirill Komarov stressed that external sanctions against Russia had not affected Rosatom directly. “Not a single contract of ours, not a single company of ours, no employee has been subjected to restrictions due to the sanctions. I believe it can be explained by the fact that everyone understands really well that nuclear energy industry is such a sensitive sphere of international cooperation that it should be the last thing that any sanctions have to affect,” said the executive.

Kirill Komarov reminded that all the nuclear energy industry projects are long-term ones and cover the period of over 100 years taking into account the extension of the service life of reactors and their consequent decommissioning. “A lot of different things can happen within this period. This is why if we are to do serious work, no temporary political turbulence should affect nuclear projects,” added the First Deputy Director General for Development and International Business.

Kirill Komarov remarked that at present Russia honors all the commitments with regard to nuclear fuel delivery and the removal of spent nuclear fuel in contract relations with Ukraine and any other country.

The 7th international nuclear industry forum Atomexpo 2015 began in Moscow on 1 June. During the forum nuclear industry specialists from all over the world will discuss nuclear power as an impulse for social and economic development. A Belarusian delegation led by Deputy Energy Minister Mikhail Mikhadyuk took part in the event.