10 Jul (NucNet): Russia has said it is to join the Generation IV International Forum (GIF), which is planning the development of next generation nuclear energy systems.
The Nuclear Society of Russia told NucNet that Sergei Kiriyenko, head of Russia’s Federal Atomic Energy Agency (Rosatom), made the announcement at a recent nuclear energy conference in Russia.
Mr Kiriyenko said a Rosatom delegation would be visiting the US some time during July 2006 for “a final discussion” of details connected to Russia’s participation in GIF.
In December 2005, GIF’s vice-chairman Jacques Bouchard said he hoped Russia would soon join the forum. Mr Bouchard said if Russia made a proposal to join he thought it would be dealt with quickly.
GIF was established in January 2000 to lay the groundwork for a fourth generation nuclear reactor that could be deployed commercially by 2030. GIF has identified six technology concepts for possible development, including very high temperature reactors and supercritical water-cooled reactors.
The current members of GIF are Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Euratom, France, Japan, South Africa, South Korea, Switzerland, the UK and US. The Nuclear Energy Agency of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are permanent observers in GIF. India has also expressed its wish to join.
