Atomenergoprom / News

Russian Joint Venture of ROSATOM and Alstom Will Supply the Turbine Island to the Baltic Nuclear Power Plant

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:00:00 +0300

Russian-French Joint Venture "Alstom-Atomenergomash" (AAEM) signed a contract on supply of turbine island equipment for units 1 and 2 of Baltic Nuclear Power Plant in the Kaliningrad region, which are to be commissioned in 2016 and 2018 respectively.

The total value of the contract exceeded 35 bln rubles (in excess of €875 mln).

The scope of supply agreement signed by AAEM includes steam turbines ARABELLE, generators, condensers, moisture separator reheaters and auxiliary equipment. Despite the fact that this is the joint venture’s first order, the share of equipment to be manufactured in Russia will exceed 50%. In future, this share is expected to reach 70% and more.

The order scope will be manufactured at production sites located in Russia in accordance with previous Russian-French agreements and in line with the program of ARABELLE turbine production localization for nuclear power plants with Russian reactor designs locally and abroad. Alstom’s Belfort plant in France will support the production of certain types of equipment included in the contract signed by AAEM.

“The contract signed today is an example of successful cooperation between Rosatom and Alstom aimed at introducing state-of-the art technologies in Russia. The Baltic Nuclear Power Plant is one of the most significant investment projects in Russia and the use of ARABELLE reference technology is essential for attracting foreign investors. Its implementation will key to ensure energy security of the Baltic region and for improving the global competitiveness of Russia’s production of power equipment. It will create hundreds of new jobs and secure orders for the Russian nuclear industry”, said Kirill Komarov, Deputy Director General for Development and International Business, State Corporation "Rosatom".

“This contract marks an important milestone for our joint venture in Russia. Considerable experience of ALSTOM in implementing similar projects will be a key to success in developing AAEM competencies in the manufacture and supply of equipment for turbine islands based on the ARABELLE technology”, commented Patrick Kron, Chairman and CEO of Alstom.

Baltic Nuclear Power Plant is the first NPP project on the Russian territory that involves participation of foreign investors. Its will not only cover the energy demand in the Kaliningrad Region, but it will also secure energy exports to the Baltic States and North-West Europe. The Baltic Nuclear Power Plant will be constructed on the base of the serial project AES-2006 with the use of pressurized water reactor VVER-1200 (designed by OKB "GIDROPRESS") and will have capacity of 2 x 1200 MW. OJSC "NIAEP", engineering company of State Corporation Rosatom, is the general contractor for the construction of the Baltic Nuclear Power Plant.

Alstom’s ARABELLE technology provides maximum efficiency and enhances the reliability of electricity production at nuclear power plants, reducing the total construction and operating costs of nuclear power plants. Today, Alstom’s ARABELLE half-speed turbines are the most powerful on the market – able to reach power capacity of up to 1700-1800 MW - and guarantee excellent performance. When the total operating time of these turbines is more than 300 000 hours the average downtime is less than 1 hour per unit annually/per single year, which is an unprecedented level of turbine availability. ARABELLE ™turbine plants are located at a number of power units, including nuclear power plants in China and the largest one is in Flamanville 3 in France with a unit capacity of 1750 MW.

Alstom-Atomenergomash (AAEM) is a joint venture created in 2007 in Russia by Alstom (49%) and Atomenergomash (51%) to deliver nuclear conventional islands and assembly of machine for Russian and foreign nuclear power plants with Russian reactor types based on the licensed technology ARABELLE.

Press-service of Alstom, Media-centre of OJSC Atomenergomash

Jukka Laaksonen gets a post in Rusatom Overseas

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:52:00 +0300

Jukka Laaksonen who until present held the post of the Director General of the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK, nuclear regulator in Finland) will take the position of Vice President in Rusatom Overseas (a ROSATOM’s company which has been established for promotion of Russian nuclear technologies in the global market).

In this capacity he will be in charge of technical aspects of projects and compliance with international and national safety requirements.

I expect that my new position will give me a good opportunity to use my past experience to contribute to our common task, i.e. safe uses of atomic energy across the world, J. Laaksonen noted.

“I’m very glad that such highly competent, worldwide acknowledged high-profiled professional in nuclear power safety will work in the Russian nuclear industry. This speaks of how much significance we do attach to effectiveness and safety of our projects,” Kirill Komarov, Deputy Director General for Development and International Business at ROSATOM, said.

For information

Jukka Laaksonen had the post of the Director General of Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) of Finland since 1997. He got his M.Sc. in Engineering from Helsinki Technical University in 1972. After two years of nuclear research in the Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT), he joined STUK in 1974 where he has held various posts before appointment as Director General. He has served as a visiting expert at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in 1981–82 and as senior officer at IAEA in 1987–89.

J. Laaksonen has actively participated in international cooperation in the area of nuclear safety and safeguards since the 1970s and has held several chairmanships in international organizations, among them OECD/NEA Committee for Nuclear Regulatory Activities (1998–2007) and EC group coordinating EU’s program of Nuclear Regulatory Assistance to Eastern Europe (2001–2003). He has also conducted several IAEA safety missions. Currently, he is the deputy Vice Chairman of the International Nuclear Safety Advisory Group, invited by the IAEA Director General.

Press Service of Rusatom Overseas

Baltic NPP: a routine meeting of Unit 1 construction control panel held on site

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:37:00 +0300

On the 31st of January 2012 a routine meeting of Unit 1 of Baltic NPP (Neman District of Kaliningrad Region) construction control panel was held on plant site.

It was attended by Yevgeny Vlasenko, the Director of Rosenergoatom branch – the Directorate of Baltic Nuclear Power Plant under Construction, Valery Limarenko, Director of NIAEP, and Vyacheslav Makhonin, Limarenko’s First Deputy and Director of Baltic Branch, Sergey Buchelnikov, Director General of JSC Baltic NPP, as well as representatives of SPb AEP and subcontractors engaged in the plant construction.

Vyacheslav Makhonin familiarized the attendees with the approved 2012 subject plan of Unit 1 construction. The plan contains discrete construction schedules of both major facilities, which include turbine and reactor buildings and auxiliary and support facilities. According to Makhonin, the construction financing is on schedule.

Due to an increase in work volume by nearly three times, recruitment of construction workers continues, and by the end of the first quarter the headcount will be 1,500 people, with an average annual number of more than 2,500 people. The main task of today for subcontractors is to hire high-skilled staff.

Bidding lots of construction and installation works and equipment are prepared and placed on the electronic trading platform of Rosatom where tenders are held.

Representatives of companies involved in the NPP construction reported on their work progress at priority facilities and on how this work was organized on those freezing days. It was noted that all necessary measures have been implemented to avoid degrading of quality of the construction and installation works, to have the machinery operated appropriately and to provide heating and hot meals for the workers.

“There is no doubt that the first quarter plan will be fulfilled,” Valery Limarenko, Director of NIAEP, assured the attendees.

At the present time, 631 persons are engaged in Baltic NPP construction; of them 525 persons are residents of Kaliningrad Region.

Information and Public Relation Center of JSC Baltic NPP

OECD Nuclear Energy Agency’s mission finished its visit to Russia

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:39:00 +0300

On January 23-26 a mission of the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) of OECD led by Director General Luis Echavarri held a visit to Russia.

During the visit, the Agency’s delegation studied various aspects of Russia’s nuclear activities in the context of Russia’s application to ascend to this organization submitted in October 2011.

In the course of the stay L. Echavarri visited Rostechnadzor where he was familiarized with oversight and licensing standards applied in the Russian nuclear industry; IBRAE RAS where he was informed on new areas of research and development, including development and application of computer codes for analysis and justification of reactor safety; SPA Radon where he toured to the scientific and production complex; and NRC Kurchatov Institute.

On the last day L. Echavarry had a meeting with ROSATOM Deputy Director General Nikolay Spasskiy where issues of the Russian atomic energy policy, details of nuclear research and activities as well as information on legal and regulatory projects were discussed.

At a press conference held on outcomes of the visit L. Echavarri said he was greatly impressed by how far Russia was engaged in the nuclear power development. According to the NEA DG, an affiliation decision should be made by all member-states but this mission visit demonstrated that many of mandatory conditions of ascension were met. In particular, he was surprised when made aware of about 300,000 people working at ROSATOM’s enterprises. He also noted that the Russian nuclear industry attaches much attention to research.

Answering a question concerning the post-Fukushima nuclear power future, L. Echavarri noted that the accident that had occurred at the plant was not due to deficiencies of nuclear technologies but a natural disaster which tolled about 20,000 Japanese while no one died of radiation after the accident in the country. He also emphasized that in spite of the fact that 3-4 countries have abandoned nuclear, about 20 countries have declared their intent to operate existing plants and build new ones.

After the Agency mission’s visit a record is to be produced on its outcomes for members of the NEA Steering Committee which makes a decision to recommend the OECD Council to affiliate Russia. A final decision on the Russia’s application is expected in April 2012.

The NEA Director General believes this decision is likely to be positive. He also noted that Russia’s ascension to the NEA will be mutually beneficial. He said Russian specialists will have access to results of R&D which are carried out in other countries and the Agency will have access to knowledge and expertise which Russia has accumulated over decades of implementation of its nuclear program.

Russia considers the ascension to the Nuclear Energy Agency as a logical continuation of the course towards integration in the world nuclear industry and its key institutions. Owing to ascension to the NEA, Russia will get the right to use all results of intellectual activities of the NEA member-states and its Databank, while the NEA member-states will get access to intellectual resources of the Russian scientists that would facilitate further joint development of advanced technologies in the nuclear sphere.

Communications Department of ROSATOM

ROSATOM approved Fuel Division Development Strategy

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:54:00 +0300

The Strategic Committee of ROSATOM has approved the Fuel Division Development Strategy until 2030.

The Division’s strategic goal is to grow the business scale from US$6 billion in 2011 up to US$16 billion by 2030. In spite of political constraints imposed on the Russian products in some countries and increasing competition in the global market, the Division should build up its market share from 25% up to 30-32% correspondingly, in the basic market of the front-end of the nuclear fuel cycle.

The Fuel Division’s market strategy will base on globalization of operations, establishment of alliances with foreign companies, provision of innovative market offers to the clients, as well as leadership in prime cost of uranium enrichment and development of nuclear fuel technology.

Also, the Fuel Division will intensify development in the non-nuclear domain where one of priority areas is the entering the market of energy storage systems. A target volume of proceeds from non-nuclear businesses should reach more than US$3 billion by 2030.

To ensure effective implementation of the strategy, the Fuel Division will realize a number of projects to create conditions for effective business development, including creation of a global network of research centers, development of transportation and logistics complex, modernization and centralization of production facilities etc.

The social acceptability of business is an unconditional priority for the Fuel Division. In this regard, one of basic principles of transformations is active development of productions in the “closed” cities (ZATO) and one-company towns. Besides, together with regional powers, comprehensive programs for development of business environment in municipalities will be produced and joint work to attract cornerstone investors to host cities of the Fuel Company of ROSATOM TVEL will be carried out.

The Fuel Company of ROSATOM TVEL is part of the vertically integrated structure of the Russian nuclear industry. FC TVEL unites production and scientific assets in nuclear fuel fabrication, conversion and enrichment, as well as manufacture of gas centrifuges and their equipment. The Fuel Company of ROSATOM TVEL has been established to achieve an optimum structure of management of nuclear fuel cycle facilities, enhancement of their performance and competitiveness in the global market.

Public Relations Directorate of JSC TVEL

A delegation of the Nuclear Energy Agency of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development visited IBRAE RAS

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:11:00 +0300

On the 24-th of December 2012 a delegation of the Nuclear Energy Agency of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)led by its Director General Luis Echavarri visited the Nuclear Safety Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IBRAE RAS).

The visit was paid in the framework of a review process of the Russian Federation ascension to the Nuclear Energy Agency.

During the visit the guests were familiarized with new areas of research and development pursued by IBRAE RAS, including the development and application of computer codes for reactor safety analysis and justification.

The presentation “Prompt Analysis of Fukushima-Daiichi Accident Development and its Consequences, and Preparation of Recommendations for the Russian Governmental Bodies” triggered an active discussion and great interest of the Agency’s delegation. What is to remind is the fact that IBRAE RAS is the world’s leading scientific center for forecasting and analysis of severe accidents at NPPs as well as their consequences. From the first hours of the accent at the Japanese NPP, scientists of IBRAE RAS precisely forecasted all its development stages and later produced proposals on minimizing the accident consequences.

During the meeting with the Agency top management, also topical discussions were held and issues related to elimination of radiation accidents and population protection measures were discussed.

The Agency delegation visited the Technical Crisis Center of IBRAE RAS which uses in practice the results of the Institute’s developments in the field of nuclear, radiation and environmental safety to render scientific and technical support to emergency response measures in case of radiation accidents.

IBRAE RAS Director Leonid Bolshov believes “a full-fledged membership of Russia in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and development will become recognition of the highest level of the national nuclear power and industry.”

On his part, L. Echavarri expressed deep satisfaction with the visit to IBRAE RAS. We have cooperated for more than twenty years already, he said. I am sure that our joint work will be the very same resultative, he added.

Press Service of IBRAE RAS

Uranium One Inc. announced purchase of 13.9% of Mantra Resources Limited shares

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:34:00 +0300

Board of Directors of the Canadian uranium mining company Uranium One Inc. (51.4% of shares are owned by ARMZ Uranium Holding Co. (JSC Atomredmetzoloto, ARMZ)) decided to partially exercise a call option and purchase 13.9% of shares of Australian-based company Mantra Resources Limited (Mantra) from JSC Atomredmetzoloto for US$150 mln. The deal is expected to be closed in Q1 2012, upon receiving all necessary approvals from the regulatory authorities.

Under the terms of the option agreement, the term of Uranium One Inc.’s call option to purchase the rest of Mantra Resources Limited shares from ARMZ will be extended until 7 June 2013 after the US$150 mln partial option exercise has been completed. Exercising of the option to acquire the remainder of Mantra Resources Limited is subject to Uranium One Inc. minority shareholders’ approval.

As was reported earlier, in December 2010 ARMZ Uranium Holding Co. announced a transaction to acquire 100% shares of Australian-based uranium mining company Mantra Resources Limited. ARMZ and Uranium One also signed a Put/Call Option Agreement, under which Uranium One Inc. has the right to acquire from ARMZ all of the shares of Mantra at the same price paid by ARMZ plus additional expenditures of the latter.

In March 2011, ARMZ Uranium Holding Co. announced that the terms of its proposal for purchase of Mantra shares had been revised. At the same time, ARMZ and Uranium One signed an Amended and Restated Put/Call Option Agreement for purchase of all Mantra shares, under which the put/call option could be extended to 24 months from 12 months provided that Uranium One partially exercised its call option and acquired approximately 15% of Mantra shares for US$150 million within six months from closing of the acquisition of Mantra by ARMZ or until 31 January 2012, whichever comes later.

The transaction to acquire 100% of Mantra Resources Limited shares was closed in June 2011. After that, Uranium One Inc. became the operator of the key project of Mantra Resources Limited – Mkuju River in Tanzania.

Press-service of ARMZ Uranium Holding Co.

Baltic NPP: this year first meeting of construction control panel held

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:58:00 +0300

On the 11-th of January a meeting of the construction control panel of Baltic NPP which is being built in Neman District of Kaliningrad Region was held to become the first in the new year.

It was attended by representatives of Rosenergoatom, top management of NIAEP (principal contractor for pre-construction phase) Baltic NPP and subcontractors.

The meeting participants discussed the work progress at each facility and targets for 2012.

Summing up the results of 2011, Vyacheslav Makhonin, First Deputy Director of NIAEP and Director of the Baltic Branch, in his presentation emphasized that the overall plan had been fulfilled 102% and that of construction and installation works 104%. According to the 2012 program, the work scope is to triple. A number of construction workers of different trades are to be increased from the current 508 up to 1,500 people already in the first quarter. He charged each of the subcontractors to a man-assignment schedule and to engage at least 3,000 people by the end of this year.

“Today’s top priority task is to ensure execution of work with good quality at all NPP facilities and as per the construction schedule,” Makhonin emphasized. With that, he point out top managers of subcontractors engaged in the construction that people are provided with all necessary and safe conditions of work in the winter season.

At the present time 573 persons are engaged in the Baltic NPP construction, of them 487 are residents of Kaliningrad Region.

“We have obtained all licenses and other permits necessary for construction of Unit 1,” Director of Rosenergoatom Branch – Directorate of Baltic Nuclear Power Plant under Construction – Yevgeny Vlasenko noted. He said that by the start of the active construction phase all support facilities have been prepared, necessary funds made available to result in a large volume of orders for purchasing necessary equipment placed. Some of it has already started coming.

A new composition of the integrated team has been approved to ensure continuous oversight on the site, Vlasenko said. It includes representatives of the Department for Industrial, Environmental and Nuclear Supervision for Kaliningrad Region and now they, due to high importance of the tasks being solved, are made directly reportable to Rostechnadzor.

Makhonin especially noted that the 2012 target plan provided that the design estimates being developed by Sob AEP should be available not less than a month prior the planned work start. This will also facilitate exact observance of the NPP construction schedule.

Press Service of NIAEP

Standard & Poor’s raised term rating of Atomenergoprom

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 11:44:00 +0300

On the 14th of December 2011 the credit rating service Standard & Poor’s raised the term credit rating of the Russian public holding Atomenergoprom up to BBB from BBB-. At the same time, it confirmed the short-term rating А-3 and national scale rating ruAAA, with “Stable” forecast for the ratings.

Atomenergoprom for the first time produced an audited financial statement for 2010 as per IAS and that, Standard & Poor’s believe, conditioned improvement of transparency and a reduction in information risk.

“The Russian nuclear industry is on the upgrade: as of the end of 2011 we have a portfolio of orders for construction of 21 power units abroad, and in Russia there are 10 power units at different stages of construction. We consider the increase of the term rating an objective response to the measures on enhancement of transparency of our activities that we are implementing,” Nikolay Solomon, First Deputy Director of ROSATOM, commented on the rating increase.

The Standard & Poor’s report notes that the vertically integrated business pattern and state monopoly in the sphere of the civil nuclear industry in the Russian Federation produce a positive effect on the company’s business solvency. Ratings of Atomenergoprom reflect a very high probability of the holding to get a timely and sufficient urgent support from the Government of the Russian Federation in case of a financial stress. Besides, Atomenergoprom holds strong positions in the world market segments such as mining, conversion, enrichment of uranium and fabrication of fuel rods.

Atomenergoprom is an integrated company that consolidates civil assets of the Russian nuclear industry. It is 100% owned by ROSATOM which unites more than 250 enterprises and scientific organizations, including all civil companies of the Russian nuclear industry, enterprises of the nuclear weapons complex, research institutions and the world’s only nuclear icebreaker fleet.

Communications Department of ROSATOM

Ratification of the Agreement between Russia and Japan concerning the cooperation in the peaceful use of atomic energy is of great significance

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 10:40:00 +0300

ROSATOM evaluates the ratification of the Agreement between Russia and Japan concerning the cooperation in the peaceful use of atomic energy as an important event. The Agreement is of a framework nature but it is of great significance for broadening the practical cooperation. In particular, it opens the way for direct deliveries of enriched uranium product to Japan without involvement of third countries as it has used to be until present.

The importance of the Agreement is highlighted by the fact that it was presented to the Parliament personally by Japan’s Prime Minister Yosihiko Noda.

Having come into force, the Agreement will serve as an additional stimulus for broadening both the existing areas of the cooperation (deliveries of the Russian enriched uranium as hexafluoride for further re-conversion in Japan) and development of new areas, for instance, deliveries of advanced processing stages products, such as uranium dioxide.

On the whole, the bilateral agreement on the cooperation in the peaceful use of atomic energy is aimed at creating new opportunities for producers in Russia and Japan. In this country, it means a perspective of broadening the business of ROSATOM’s companies, such as Techsnabexport, NIAEP, Atomenergomash, Uranium Holding ARMZ and other. Political constraints are lifted and now the two countries can start implementing specific mutually beneficial projects.

Also, attention has to be paid to the fact that the Japanese Parliament has ratified several similar agreements at one time, including that with South Korea, Jordan, and Vietnam. This is clear evidence that the Japanese Government confirms its course towards the peaceful use of atomic energy, in spite of the tragic events of March 2011.

The lower house of the Japanese Parliament ratified the agreement of peaceful atom with Russia on December 6.

Russia and Japan signed the agreement on the cooperation in the peaceful use of atomic energy in 2009, and the Russian Parliament ratified it in the end of 2010.

The Agreement will allow Russia and Japan to cooperate in such areas as construction of nuclear power plants, enriched uranium production, and fuel fabrication.

Communications Department of ROSATOM