Russia Said to Launch Reactors in 2010

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/w-eur/2006/may/17/051707658.html

MOSCOW (AP) - Russia will commission at least two nuclear reactors a year beginning in 2010 as part of a massive effort to expand its nuclear energy sector, Russia's top nuclear official said Wednesday.

Sergei Kiriyenko, head of the Federal Atomic Energy Agency, said the ambitious program would begin with the launch of construction next year of a new nuclear power plant near St. Petersburg, the ITAR-Tass and RIA Novosti news agencies reported. The new plant with four nuclear reactors would cost $6 billion, Kiriyenko said.

He said the new plant would be located next to the existing nuclear plant in Sosnovy Bor, near St. Petersburg.

Nuclear power accounts for 16 percent to 17 percent of Russia's electricity generation, and the Kremlin has set a target to raise its share to one-quarter by 2030. Kiriyenko said recently that Russia would have to build 40 new reactors to meet the goal.

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Or we will just sit on our butts, growing fat on corn syrup, while watching television.

I don't have a lot of faith that the United States will do anything for the right reasons.

If the United States does start building nuclear power plants again, which might not be a good thing given the current state of ignorance here, it would be a shame if it was simply because the Russians did it first.

I'd be more comfortable knowing we were doing it because we'd come to some thoughtful agreement that it was the right thing to do.