News

Minatom to complete Cuban NPP

Publish date: September 28, 1998

Written by: Igor Kudrik

Acting nuclear minister of Russia, Yevgeny Adamov, has filed a request to the government to complete a nuclear power plant in Cuba. Nuclear fuel for the plant will be shipped from Russia.

Yevgeny Adamov, the acting minister for atomic energy, wants to complete Juragua Nuclear Power Plant in Cuba. A request has been filed to the yet unformed government, said the minister in an interview with RIA Novosti.

The Juragua NPP consists of two Russian VVER-440 PWR reactor units. The construction of the first unit was launched in 1983, work on the second started in 1985. The construction has been halted for the last 6-7 years.

According to Adamov, Havana admits its debts to Russia related to the nuclear power plant, and is ready to give 51% ownership to the Russian side. The fuel for the plant will be shipped from Russia, potentially bringing tens of millions USD profits to the Russian plants manufacturing the fuel.

Earlier this year, Sergey Shoigu, Minister for Emergency Situations, said that earlier projects with Cuba were financed entirely by the government in Moscow, but future deals with that country will be funded by Russia’s private sector. No details were provided, though.