You're reading: Igor Sechin: There is no alternative to nuclear energy

Russia is sure that the future is in the construction of safe nuclear power plants, Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin said on April 19 in Kyiv.

"Despite the gravity of accidents at nuclear power plants, we are confident that the nuclear power sector will and must develop. Russia has no doubts that the civilian nuclear industry still remains potentially one of the most economically profitable sources of electric energy, on condition that relevant standards in designing and operating nuclear power plants are observed," Sechin said at a summit on the safe and innovative use of nuclear energy in Kyiv on Tuesday.

"Without nuclear power, it would be impossible to respond to the challenges of humankind’s need for power. It is a locomotive of high technology" and its achievements are utilized in allied sectors," he said.

As manmade nuclear accidents inevitably affect many countries, "it is time not only to improve the existing national government acts but also develop universal international approaches," he said.

"Practically, we can talk about increasing responsibility of the countries using nuclear power, improving the IAEA standards, developing and adopting strict regulations on the construction of NPP in quake-prone areas, and perfecting the system of prompt alert on a nuclear accident and emergency response mechanisms," he said.