Nuclear Builder Back Under State Control ...........................................
February 22, 2006
Moscow Times
Combined Reports
Russia is bringing atomic power-station builder Atomstroiexport back under the control of the Federal Atomic Energy Agency after a brief takeover by gas giant Gazprom, the nuclear agency's head said Tuesday.
Gazprom acquired a controlling stake in Atomstroiexport, which is building Iran's first nuclear reactor at Bushehr, in October 2004, stoking fears at the time that the huge gas company was overreaching.
"We are taking into account the colossal growth in volume of building in the world," said Sergei Kiriyenko, the former prime minister who was made head of the atomic agency in November.
Many countries in Europe are starting to reconsider nuclear power in the light of high oil prices and political uncertainty in oil-producing countries in the Middle East and Africa.
"Russia must fight seriously for that external market. For us the key thing is that we have regained control of the main operator of building abroad, Atomstroiexport," Kiriyenko told reporters. The deal involves the Federal Atomic Energy Agency buying 4 percent of Atomstroiexport's capital from Gazprombank, Gazprom's banking arm, Rosatom said. No price was given.
Gazprombank now owns 53 percent of Atomstroiexport's shares and the Federal Atomic Energy Agency holds 46 percent, Bloomberg reported, citing Interfax |
