Rosatom Prepares For Nuclear Icebreakers Corporization

05.10.2011 A presidential decree excluding Rosatomflot from the list of enterprises forbidden for privatization would improve effectiveness of state-led corporation Rosatom, said the company's press service.

Decree No. 1256 issued on Sept 28 introduces changes in federal privatization program and implies corporization of FSUE Rosatomflot with 100% shares remaining in governmental property.

Apart from auxiliary vessels, Rosatomflot presently operates four icebreakers with dual-reactor nuclear propulsion plant (Rossiya, Sovetsky Soyuz, Yamal, 50 Let Pobedy), two icebreakers with single-reactor nuclear propulsion plant (Taimyr and Vaigach), and single-reactored LASH containership Sevmorput. Three nuclear-powered icebreakers – Lenin, Arktika, and Sibir – are in reserve. This is the largest icebreaking fleet in the world. In 2009 it turned 50.

The enterprise was assigned under jurisdiction of Rosatom state corporation in 2008. Since that time its effectiveness has been improved, and wages of staff have considerably grown. Recently, it was announced about construction of three new nuclear-powered icebreakers to be completed by 2020.

Corporization of Rosatomflot will be customary issue for Rosatom. All nuclear power plants and uranium enrichment facilities are stock companies entirely owned by the state.

With a view to expand Russia's presence in Arctic, Rosatom plans to improve productivity of the corporized enterprise and develop its internal management efficiency.

Russian president Dmitry Medvedev places high emphasis on nuclear industry. He held a session of technology development committee on Oct 3 in Dmitrovgrad and visited Nuclear Reactor Research Institute. Currently, a national nuclear innovation center is being established there. The institute is producing short-lived isotopes for pharmaceuticals, e.g. molybdenum 99. Thus, an impulse for development of such hi-tech trend as nuclear medicine has been given.

At present, Rosatom produces 16% of electric power in Russia and controls 17% of world's nuclear fuel market. On Sept 28 Russian nuclear industry celebrated occupational holiday.