Russia to build two nuke electricity generators each year before 2030

MOSCOW, RUSSIA - Russia plans to build two sets of nuclear electricity generators each year to bring its nuclear electricity production capacity to 25 percent of the country's total electricity output by 2030, head of Russia's Atomic Energy Agency Sergei Kiriyenko said recently.

The Atomic Energy Agency is negotiating with private investors in the hope of engaging them in the planned construction of nuclear power stations, Kiriyenko said, adding that these stations will still be state-owned.

Currently, Russia has ten nuclear power stations and 31 sets of nuclear electricity generators, which produce 16 percent of the country's electricity.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the end of January that the country's nuclear electricity production capacity should reach a quarter of the country's total by 2030, which is considered feasible by experts.

With the implementation of the plan, Russia is expected to be able to save 70 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually by 2010, 105 billion by 2020 and 150 billion by 2030.

The cost-effective plan is also conducive to Russia's implementation of the Kyoto Protocol which aims to reduce global greenhouse emissions.