Cuba looks to Russia for development of nuclear power

Elba Rosa Pérez Montoya, Cuba’s minister of Science, Technology and the Environment, met Monday (June 1) in Moscow with Sergei Vladilenovich Kiriyenko, president of Rosatom, Russia’s nuclear energy corporation.

According to Radio Havana, they discussed the outlook for collaboration in the peaceful use of nuclear power for the generation of electricity in Cuba.

Cuba is heavily dependent on imported petroleum for its power plants and is looking actively for alternatives, such as wind- and sun-powered generators. Nuclear power is another alternative.

Pérez is in Moscow attending the 7th International Forum ATOMexpo-2015 (opening day photo at top), a three-day event that deals with all aspects of nuclear energy and the direction of its further development. This year’s theme is “Nuclear Energy: Momentum for Economic and Social Development.”

The purpose of this edition of the forum is to develop cooperation between Russia and the countries of Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Africa, Central and Eastern Europe in the field of nuclear energy.

Representatives of various countries discuss the benefits of nuclear energy, its influence on socio-economic development and the possible problems in cases of non-use.

This year, the event is being held at the Moscow exhibition hall known as Gostiny Dvor, or Merchants’ Court. Forty countries — including Brazil and Argentina — are represented by more than 1,000 delegates.

The exhibition will close on Wednesday (June 3) with a tour of the construction site of Rosatom’s newest nuclear power plant at Novovoronezh in central Russia.