Reforms in the energy sector

AtomEnergoProm is a new single holding company for the Russian civil nuclear sector, incorporating entities working both in Russia and abroad.

Creating company AtomEnergoProm
In April 2007 Russian President Putin signed a decree to create a vertically-integrated state holding company for Russia's nuclear power sector, separate from the military complex. The corporation was set up in 2007, and is named AtomEnergoProm.

AtomEnergoProm includes
● nuclear power plant operator Rosenergoatom
● nuclear fuel producer and supplier TVEL
● uranium trader Tekhsnabexport (Tenex)
● nuclear facilities constructor Atomenergomash
● nuclear constructor for overseas projects Atomstroyexports
● power plant design Atomenergoproekt

For the time being AtomEnergoProm will not include fuel reprocessing or disposal facilities.

Exclusive state ownership of nuclear materials has been seen as a barrier to competitiveness. Other Russian corporate entities will now be allowed to hold civil-grade nuclear materials, under state control. Some of the incorporated entities are already share-holding companys.

Chairman of the board of directors is Sergey Kiriyenko, now head of Rosatom, Russia’s federal atomic energy agency. Kiriyenko is also former prime minister, and is known to be liberal and market-friendly. Sergey Obozov, former director general of Rosatom, is first deputy director. This shows clearly that Rosatom will be less important than before.

Creating Rosatom Corporation as distinct from Rosatom agency
In October 2007 a bill to create Rosatom Corporation to hold all nuclear assets on behalf of the state was introduced into parliament. Rosatom Corporation will be a non-profit company holding all shares in AtomEnergoProm. It will take over the functions of the present Rosatom agency but not report to any particular ministry.

The Russian state will, allthough probably opening up for investors, keep the majority shares in AtomEnergoProm. Thus, the government can control AtomEnergoProm company, probably in a way that resembles the way it can control Gazprom, which used to be a ministry but was transformed into a company.

Effects on NGOs work
As state control will be maintained through ownership instead of through government, there is reason to fear that information access and possibility to influence will be more limited.

On the other hand, if AtomEnergoProm contributes to a more clear separation between civil and military nuclear industry, it might make it easier for environmental NGOs to work in the field of civil nuclear.

That disposal facilities are not include makes it still somewhat unclear who carries the responsibility for treatment and storage of radioactive waste and spent fuel. In 2007, two draft versions of a law on waste were sent from government. Hopefully some answers will be given in 2008.

References
World nuclear organization: Nuclear power in Russia. October 2007. URL: http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf45.html (retrieved Dec 10, 2007)

Wikipedia: Atomenergoprom. URL: http://en.wikipedia.org.wiki/Atomenergoprom (retrieved Dec 10, 2007)