Russia Creates a State-Owned Nuclear Holding Company

April 28 (EIRNS) Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree April 27 to create a state-owned nuclear power corporation. The new holding company, Atomenergoprom, under development by Federal Atomic Energy Agency (Rosatom) head Sergei Kiriyenko for some months, was featured in Putin's April 26 Message to the Federal Assembly, as being essential for launching what he called "the second great electrification of the country."

Itar-Tass reported that Atomenergoprom will be set up by next January. It will be a wholly government owned joint stock company. Some 55 entities will be corporatized and brought under the holding company by Dec. 1, and a list of the joint stock companies registered by July 1. Itar-Tass cited a source at the Federal Atomic Energy Agency saying that this holding company "will incorporate all enterprises and companies, which produce atomic energy machinery, build and operate nuclear power plants, produce and enrich uranium and make nuclear fuel."

The new entity will be, according to Kommersant , directly responsible to the President of Russia, who will appoint the board of directors. Kommersant also reported that a state-run national corporation for nanotechnology will be set up on the same lines. On April 18, Putin had addressed the Kurchakov Institute on the importance of nanotechnology research. The military arms exporter Rosoboronexport may also become a state-run corporation.