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MOSCOW: Russia's lower house of parliament on Wednesday gave preliminary approval to a bill which will pave the way for a merger of civilian nuclear companies into one state firm with global clout.
President Vladimir Putin last year approved a revamp of the nuclear industry which officials say is aimed at boosting nuclear energy production and strengthening Russia's presence on the expanding world nuclear market.
“Russia's atomic sector today is one of the few sectors of the national economy that is fulfilling its export potential through scientific and high technology production,” says an explanatory note.
“Foreign companies are at the present time preparing for a new stage in the competitive struggle for the world uranium market and enrichment service,” the note said.
Climate change and high oil prices have prompted many countries to look with favour on nuclear energy as a cheap power source. Russia already builds nuclear power stations around the world and wants to position itself to win more contracts.
Under the Russian plan, a single state company called Atomprom will be created on the base of the many smaller, sometimes overlapping, state-controlled companies in the sector.
Nuclear officials compare Atomprom to state-controlled gas giant Gazprom, the world's biggest gas company by reserves, which has become a key geopolitical instrument for the Kremlin.
The note mentions global competitors such as French state-owned nuclear energy group Areva, Urenco Ltd, the Anglo-Dutch-German manufacturer of enriched uranium, and U.S.-based Westinghouse, which is owned by Japan's Toshiba Corp.
Lawmakers in the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, approved the bill on second reading on Wednesday with 372 for and 43 against. The bill has to pass a third reading but this is usually a formality.
