Resident representatives to international organizations in Vienna from 21 countries (Argentina, Armenia, Brazil, Vietnam, Ghana, Egypt, India, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Malaysia, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, UAE, Pakistan, Singapore, Syria, Sudan, Switzerland and Japan) came to visit nuclear facilities in Rostov. “What we saw stands alone as one site combines a core equipment production facility and an operating nuclear power plant. Moreover, there is a new unit under construction on the same site. We had an opportunity to follow the entire chain – from the production of NPP equipment to the construction of a new unit,” said Mr. Rafael Mariano Grossi, Resident Representative of Argentina in Vienna.

The visit began at the well-known Atommash plant where the diplomats had a chance to see the production process of nuclear and thermal equipment. In particular, they were shown the treatment of technical components for the Belarusian NPP, production of steam generators, X-ray testing devices and other equipment.

The next stop was at the Rostov NPP, which was chosen not by chance as it offers an opportunity to watch both a nuclear plant in operation and a new unit under construction.

Before visiting the site, the guests had a meeting with the Russian delegation headed by Nikolai Spassky, Rosatom Deputy CEO for International Relations. NPP Director Andrei Salnikov spoke about the nuclear power plant and its social responsibility and answered questions of the delegates. Egypt’s representative Khaled Abdelrachman Shamaa was particularly interested in the attitude of local communities towards the nuclear station. According to Andrei Salnikov, 70% of the local population is positive about nuclear power and the Rostov NPP. “We do our best to shape the same attitude among the other 30% through our information services and the information center. We think that a great contributor to the process is the Volgodonsk branch of the National Nuclear Research University (MEPhI) training Volgodonsk students who then come to work at the Rostov NPP”.

Following the questions and answers session, the delegates visited the Rostov NPP where they had a tour round the Unit 3 control room, the turbine island and the Unit 4 construction site.

“We were deeply impressed with the construction process at Rostov Unit 4, employees’ professionalism and the work they do,” noted Sadiq Marafi, Resident Representative of Kuwait to international organizations in Vienna. “Each time we come to Russia, we are shown new things, and they impress us even greater. This was a new experience for us, especially the construction of Rostov Unit 4 that will be finished in just two years.” He added that Kuwait had not yet made a decision to construct a nuclear station, but hoped that the country would soon start cooperation with Russia in the field of nuclear energy.

Ali Al-Mansouri, Qatar’s Resident Representative to the UN, said that his first visit to Russia and a nuclear facility was an excellent experience. “I am preparing a report for the national authorities and will definitely supplement it with a description of my trip to Russia and what I saw here,” noted Ali Al-Mansouri.

At the end of the visit, the diplomats were brought to the training center where they were demonstrated an emergency exercise on the control room simulators. According to the drill scenario, a steam generator feed water pump failed and the unit capacity was put down by 50%. The guests had an opportunity to watch how the problem was solved by a well-coordinated professional team.

“The emergency drill made a great impression on me,” Mariano Grossi shared his opinion. “I have been to many nuclear stations, but I have never seen such a true-to-life exercise. It was obvious that employees were well trained. They were extremely concentrated. I would like to see the same level of professionalism at many other nuclear stations.”

DIPLOMATS SPEAKING

Ali El Mhamdi, Resident Representative of Morocco:
After visiting Rosatom’s facilities, we can fully appreciate its contribution to the development of nuclear technologies. We have yet another proof that human activities related to peaceful uses of nuclear energy are really safe and can play an important role in the national progress.

Now we know that Russia is ready to transfer technologies to other countries without making them dependent, which is very good.

Vu Viet Anh, Resident Representative of Vietnam:
I am glad to have visited the Rostov NPP as the visit has left a good impression on me. We were told about the history and operation of the nuclear power plant and shown the construction of Unit 4. It is especially interesting for us in Vietnam because we are preparing to build one nuclear station with the help of Russia and the other with Japan.

Russian practices were shared with us, and we will study them to facilitate our development.

I know that Russia and Vietnam have a joint program for our students to come to Russian universities and then work at nuclear power plants. I think that cooperation between Russia and Vietnam in the NPP construction goes well. I hope that our first unit will be commissioned soon after 2020.

We work in association with the IAEA, so safety is our top priority. The visit to Russian nuclear facilities has convinced us of their safety.

Simon Madjumo Maruta, Resident Representative of Namibia:
This was my first visit to a nuclear site, and it made a great impression on me. I very much appreciate Russia’s efforts because I am sure that nuclear nations should transfer their technology to developing countries so that they can use nuclear power for peaceful purposes. The Rostov NPP we have visited is a unique and very safe facility. This visit opened the eyes of many countries to potential partnerships for the development of nuclear power at home. We will probably contact Russia with a proposal to cooperate in this field. There are other nuclear market players as well, but Russia is definitely one of them, and it is doing well. I hope that its technologies will be transferred to developing countries for peaceful uses of nuclear power.

The visit was very good. Most delegates were from developing countries, and we wanted to see that nuclear power is safe and reliable. We were convinced of its safety and safety for people living nearby.

Our country has decided to look into the possibility of building a nuclear power reactor and using nuclear for other peaceful purposes, such as cancer treatment. Our position is that we are ready to start developing nuclear energy if we have all the required knowledge and skills.

It is impossible to expand industrial production with the shortage of power. As a country striving to become a developed global player, we focus on energy sufficiency, or even its surplus to sell power to other countries.

You should not forget that Namibia is a leader by uranium reserves. We do not want to export all our uranium without making use of it for power generation.

Michael Chudakov, IAEA Deputy Director General:
I fully support such events as they give developing countries a chance to estimate the nuclear potential and see nuclear facilities under construction with their own eyes. Russia is perhaps the only country which has not interrupted the construction of nuclear stations for 30 years. This is why it accounts for a significant share of nuclear stations under construction across the globe. I have been to the Rostov NPP more than once and see that the quality of operation improves due to excellent management.

Andrei Salnikov, Rostov NPP Director:
Promoting nuclear energy and making people aware of NPP operating principles are in our focus. When you bring people to the reactor hall, when they see a control room or a turbine island, there are no more questions or prejudice left against nuclear power. They see that we work here with due diligence.