African Journalists tour Russia

The Manager of Business Development Department at Russia’s State Atomic Energy Corporation, Rosatom, Albert Lazebnyi, has called on African students to consider the open scholarship program to study nuclear programs in Russia. He spoke to some selected journalists from Africa who visited Russia’s Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant in St. Petersburg.

The journalists, selected from Ghana, South Africa, Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia and Nigeria were in Russia to cover the Russia-Africa summit.

As part of the media activities, they were taken on a tour of Russia’s Leningrad Nuclear Power plant in St. Petersburg to familiarize with operational, maintenance, and safety precautions at the plant, first launched in December 1973.

It is one of ten nuclear power plants being operated by Russia’s state-owned utility Rosenergoatom, the world’s second-biggest nuclear power generating utility.

It is the major producer of electrical power in the Russian North-West and currently generates electricity for more than 50 per cent of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Oblast population.

It is the first Russian nuclear power plant to use the RBMK-1000 reactors (uranium–graphite nuclear reactors of channel type on thermal neutrons).

The visit which was facilitated by Rosatom, the state atomic energy corporation of Russia, took news men to the turbine room, control centre and cooling area.

Briefing the media before the tour, Head of the information department of Leningrad Nuclear power plant, Kashin Nikolai, showed Russia’s readiness in helping build nuclear plants for cheaper electricity generation with the help of Rosatom. He further outlined some economic benefits Africa is to derive from nuclear technology.

Some Rosatom ambassadors who are currently on a fully paid scholarship program studying nuclear related programs in Russia including Christopher Abrifa Boateng and Nowel Ojo Kayode commended Russia for the good intention of helping African countries in getting cheaper source of power for its industrialization drive.

The Manager of Business Development Department of Rusatom, Albert Lazebnyi, in an interview Said the scholarship program is open to all Africa students. He called on Africa students to consider nuclear technology and enroll in their university to study in nuclear program.

The tour ended at the nuclear training center where the Journalists were given in-depth knowledge on nuclear technology.