Russian ministry mulls building nuclear plant in Primorye within 10 years

KHABAROVSK. Nov 17 (Interfax) - Russia's Energy Ministry is exploring the possibility of building a nuclear power plant (NPP) in Primorye within ten years, Deputy Energy Minister Yevgeny Grabchak said at a meeting of the joint commission of JSC System Operator UES and RusHydro in Khabarovsk on Friday.

"We're exploring this issue. Literally yesterday we met with colleagues from the government of Primorye, discussed this issue. With the active position of the governor, if he takes such a position, I think we can talk about the prospects of building such a plant. Obviously this is not fast, not within three years, but this project can be considered within some ten-year period," Grabchak said.

"A joint working group has now been created - the ministry, Rosatom and the System Operator - in order to clarify plans to build NPPs. And yes, it includes the Primorye [NPP] project. Two 600 [MW] units. But there are also other proposals in the works," System Operator CEO Fyodor Opadchy said.

National daily Kommersant reported earlier that state nuclear corporation Rosatom is considering building a 1.2 GW NPP in Russia's Far East. This would be a plant with two generating units with VVER reactors. The plant could be built in 2035-2042, the paper said, citing a source. But sources of financing for the plant have not been determined yet.