Putin signs decree to turn Russia's nuclear sector into company

Moscow, Apr 28 (UNI) President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree to turn the Russian nuclear sector into a state-run company Atomenergoprom (Nuclear Power Industry Complex).

The new company will incorporate all enterprises related to the country's nuclear industry, from those extracting and enriching uranium to those building nuclear power plants (both at home and abroad) and equipment and also those operating them.

Under the decree, Atomenergoprom is to be set up by July 1, 2007.

The shares of companies, which will form Atomenergoprom, are to be transferred to its charter capital by August 1, and the shares of companies to be set up through their transformation into joint-stock companies from federal unitary enterprises are to be added to Atomenergoprom's charter capital by December 1.

''Thirty nuclear power plants were built in the country during the Soviet period. And we need to build another 26, based on the latest technology,'' President Putin said in his annual state-of-the- nation address to Parliament last Thursday, stressing the need for streamlining the Russian nuclear industry.

''I propose setting up a corporation to integrate nuclear power enterprises operating on domestic and foreign markets,'' he said.

Commenting on President Putin's decree, Rosatom head Sergei Kiriyenko said the new company would be designed to ensure the effective and efficient operation of the nuclear power sector in the country.

UNI