Authorities advocate international nuclear licensing center in Russia

MOSCOW, February 28 – The Federal Environmental, Industrial and Nuclear Supervision Service (Rostekhnadzor) is advocating an international nuclear licensing center in Russia, its head Konstantin Pulikovsky told journalists at today’s IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) conference on nuclear regulation.

According to him, such a center is a Russian-U.S. initiative. Its work may be important if one country builds a nuclear plant in another. Pulikovsky said that if such a center was created, its decisions would most likely be advisory. “If it is set up in our country, it will benefit us,” said the service head, noting that “all countries proceed from their own interests” in discussing such a possibility.

Pulikovsky also said that a proposal to that effect (to set up one or several centers) would be made at a G8 meeting in summer. He also added that the initiative would be discussed during the IAEA conference in Moscow, ending on March 2. The conference may formulate recommendations on such a center, but no binding decisions will be taken.

He added that such a center is feasible “if IAEA member-countries give us the go-ahead.”