Further agreements flow from AtomExpo
More cooperation agreements and contracts have been signed by Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom and its subsidiaries during the IX AtomExpo International Forum it is hosting this week in Moscow. The latest agreements, with Asian and European companies, cover collaboration in a wide range of nuclear-related areas and beyond.
A cooperation program for 2017-2019 was signed yesterday by Rosatom and French energy company Engie. The document was signed by Kirill Komarov, first deputy director-general for international business at Rosatom, and Jan Bartak, Engie nuclear development director. The cooperation program contains more than 20 specific projects in the field of nuclear power plant maintenance and nuclear fuel cycle services.
Rosatom's nuclear fuel cycle product supplier subsidiary Tenex signed an agreement with Belgium's Synatom to extend an existing long-term enriched uranium supply contract. The document envisages extending the contract until 2022 and increasing the volume of enriched uranium exported. Tenex has been supplying uranium products to Synatom since 1975.
Czech Republic
An MOU to cooperate in repairing welding joints in steam generator vessels for VVER-440 units was signed between JSC Rusatom Service and the Czech Republic's Skoda JS. The aim of the MOU is to develop cooperation between the two companies and identify specific projects for collaboration.
The two companies also signed a contract on the delivery of equipment for unit 2 of the Metsamor nuclear power plant in Armenia. Skoda JS will supply equipment for the control and protection system, which is to be replaced during a scheduled outage in 2018 as part of work to extend the operating period of the unit.
Rosatom's Komarov also signed an MOU with the Czech Power Industry Alliance (CPIA) aimed at developing cooperation in nuclear energy. "That implies, first of all, CPIA member countries' participation in Rosatom's projects in Russia and abroad," Rosatom said. "In its turn, the Alliance is ready to assist in obtaining export finance for Czech companies to be able to take part in the projects."
Asian collaboration
Rosatom subsidiary JSC RASU signed an MOU on 19 June with South Korean engineering company Doosan to develop cooperation in the area of automated radiation monitoring systems and neutron flux detectors for Korean-designed nuclear power reactors, both in South Korea and elsewhere. The MOU was signed by JSC RASU CEO Andrey Butko and head of Doosan's nuclear business group Kiang Na.
Butko said, "The memorandum opens up new opportunities for cooperation between our companies in the nuclear energy market, and in the area of instrumentation and control as well as electrical engineering for power generation and other industrial applications." He added, "This is the first step towards a long-term partnership focused on development of innovative, safe and intelligent systems for customers worldwide."
Rusatom International Network president Alexander Merten also signed an MOU with Roel Castro, president of A Brown Company Inc of the Philippines. The parties plan to develop economic, scientific and technical cooperation in the field of peaceful uses of atomic energy, as well as jointly exploring possible areas of application of radiation technologies in industry, medicine and agriculture. They also plan to hold a series of events to raise public awareness about nuclear technologies and their application in the Philippines.
Workforce development
An MOU in the area of personnel training for nuclear power programs was signed yesterday between Rosatom Central Institute for Continuing Education and Training (Rosatom-CICE&T) and global testing, inspection and certification services company Bureau Veritas.
Signed by Rosatom-CICE&T rector Iurii Seleznev and Bureau Veritas vice president of nuclear services in Europe Laurent Kueny, the MOU aims to foster cooperation in the field of research, education and training in nuclear science and technology. The organisations agreed to collaborate in such areas as the exchange of materials and lecturers, as well as distance learning.
"Signature of this memorandum is a milestone in the development of cooperation aimed at ensuring the conditions for timely and high-quality compliance with obligations of Russian companies for engineering, equipment supply and the construction of nuclear power plants in EU countries, in particular Finland's Hanhikivi 1 plant."
Rosatom subsidiary JSC Rusatom Service also signed an MOU with France's National Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology (INSTN) aimed at expanding bilateral cooperation in the education and training of nuclear energy personnel. It was signed yesterday by Rusatom Service general director Yevgeny Salkov and INSTN director Philippe Correa.
Digital platform
Rosatom also signed a cooperation agreement with global software company ABBYY. The agreement - signed yesterday by Rosatom director general Alexey Likhachov and ABBYY CEO Vadimn Tereshchenko - stipulates conditions of cooperation between the two companies, particularly collaboration in development of a new digital platform for Rosatom.
Likhachov said, "We consider Rosatom's cooperation with leading digital technology companies, like ABBYY, as a chance to strengthen our competitive edge not only in our core energy business, but also in areas connected with elaboration of new high-tech products."
Researched and written
by World Nuclear News
