Dr. Gregory Sosnin, Vice President of the ASE Group representing the Engineering Department of Ross Atom, stressed the importance of nuclear energy as part of the sustainable development of MENA countries.
He was speaking at the Fifth Arab Forum on the Prospects of Nuclear Energy in Electricity Generation and Desalinization of Sea Water that was held lately in Cairo.
Sosnin, who works as director of the Egyptian Dabaa plant project, said: "Countries of the region today – such as Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Turkey – are all rich in hydrocarbons and enjoy a warm climate ideal for solar PV, but all of them invest in nuclear energy.
"The decision makes sense when you see the benefits of nuclear energy. Its potential is huge, in fact."
Speaking of Ross Atom's experience in building nuclear power plants, he added: “We firmly believe the successful implementation of nuclear energy program is inevitably linked to success in areas such as individuals working in nuclear energy, and problems of public acceptance.
"The background of many newcomers to the nuclear energy field revealed that the delay in training individuals could lead to a deviation in the project's assigned schedule," he said, explaining that the support of the public "becomes an engine for the project."
Speaking at a session on regulatory and legislative frameworks for nuclear activities, safety, security, and nuclear safeguards, Deputy General Manager of Ross Atum ServicesYulia Chernakhovskaya expressed her opinion on the importance of nuclear infrastructure for sustainable development in the country.
Chernakhovskaya said: "This way, for example, Ross Atom Services works as a secretary in the inter-ministerial agreement between Ross Atom and the Federal Agency for Environmental, Technology and Nuclear Management (Rostekhnadzor) as part of helping to create and improve national nuclear energy infrastructure in countries that create or Planning to build nuclear facilities according to Russian designs."