| NOVO-OGARYOVO, near
Moscow--President Vladimir Putin has urged Russian nuclear industry
officials and experts to develop production of hydrogen and thermonuclear
energy for civilian purposes, as well as to build floating nuclear plants.
"It's an open secret the types of nuclear reactors widely used now are our Russian inventions to a big degree," he said Friday as he addressed a conference on nuclear industry development, held in the countryside presidential residence of Novo-Ogaryovo west off Moscow. "Works pertaining to the so-called small-power reactors are in full swing in other countries, and Russia in many ways has leading positions in that area, too," Putin said. He urged the participants to recall the terms of operation of nuclear icebreakers and submarines. "This year's state-of-the-nation address set forth a task to develop the highly promising branchouts of nuclear industry -- hydrogen and thermonuclear energy," Putin said. He indicated he hopes to hear proposals in this connection. |