More than 4,000 people from 53 countries attend ATOMEXPO 2012

On 6 June 2012, the ATOMEXPO 2012 International Forum, which is organised by Russia’s State Atomic Energy Corporation, ROSATOM, took place in Gostiny Dvor (Moscow).

The event brought together over 4,000 participants from 53 countries. More than 225 speakers gave presentations and reports on the most topical issues relating to nuclear energy. The main theme of the Forum was the Nuclear Power Industry Worldwide: One Year after Fukushima. Compared to last year, the number of representatives from new countries that are developing nuclear energy has doubled. Together with their colleagues from Russia, France, Germany, USA, Japan, and other countries, they discussed the prospects for international cooperation in the global nuclear market.

Participants in the Forum discussed a large range of issues, including what happened last year, possible solutions for nuclear legacy issues, the new Northern Sea Route, nuclear fuel market trends, etc.  During the round table discussion on an integrated approach to the development of the global nuclear industry, representatives of companies and ministries from countries like France, the Czech Republic, Turkey, South Africa and others discussed the benefits of ROSATOM’s comprehensive proposal regarding the global nuclear energy market.

The panel debate took place on June 5. It was broadcast live on Russian TV’s Channel 24, and its moderator was the famous Russian TV anchorman, Sergey Brilev. The participants in the panel debate were: Elizabeth Dipuo Peters, the Minister of Energy of the Republic of South Africa; Alexander Ozerets, the Minister of Energy of Belarus; Alexander Lokshin, First Deputy Director General of ROSATOM; Metin Kilci, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of Turkey; Ian Telfer, Non-Executive Independent Chairman of the Board of Uranium One; Lawrie Haynes, President of Rolls-Royce Nuclear;  Ruben Lazo, Chief Commercial Officer of AREVA; Takuya Hattori, President of Japan Atomic Industry Forum; Matti Ruotsala, Executive Vice-President of Fortum and Leonid Bolshov, President of the ATOMEXPO International Forum and Director of IBRAE RAN.

Representatives of Russian and foreign companies and ministries signed several bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding during the Forum. On June 4, the governments of the Russian Federation and the Federal Republic of Nigeria signed a cooperation agreement for the design, construction, operation, and decommissioning of nuclear power plants in Nigeria. It was the first agreement to build nuclear power plants ever signed between ROSATOM and an African country. On the same day, the Director General of ROSATOM, Sergey Kirienko, and the State Minister for Information and Communication Technology of the Republic of Bangladesh, Yafes Osman, signed a memorandum for the creation of the first information center on nuclear energy in Bangladesh and for the training of personnel for the country’s nuclear industry. Also other signing ceremonies took place between Russian representatives and their counterparts from such countries as the USA, Mongolia, Australia, etc.

The accompanying exhibition featured exhibits from leading companies and organisations representing the world nuclear market, such as ROSATOM, TVEL, Concern Rosenergoatom, Atomenergomash, E4 Group, Kazatomprom, EdF, CEA (France), KSB, Siemens (Germany), CNNC (China), Rolls-Royce (UK) and others. The total surface area taken up by the Forum exhibition was double that of the previous year.

For the first time a Forum mobile guide based on Apple iOS and Google Android was launched, as an application for smart phones and PC tablets. Another first were the information booths where delegates could find detailed information about the Forum, the programme and exhibitors.

The Forum was covered by about 400 representatives of the mass media, including press and TV representatives from a number of countries. These includedg India, China, Vietnam, South Africa, Japan, Iran, Turkey, Bulgaria, Hungary, UK, Germany, Ukraine, Belarus, Poland, etc.

The Atomexpo 2013 International Forum will be held, in Moscow, from 3 - 5 June, 2013.