The power system in Russia and the role of nuclear power in the transition to market economy

As a consequence of the transition of the Russian economic system to market economy, important changes are taking place in the structure of the fuel-energy complex (FEC). Substantial changes have taken place in the structure and the scale of fuel and energy production, for example a decline in the exploitation of oil and coal and a decrease in the production of electric energy by fossil fuelled power plants. Also, the power sector is being restructured. The paper discusses the causes of current problems in the FEC and the role of nuclear energy in the Russian power sector. The results of the Russian-US joint study on the development of the electric power sector and the problems of nuclear power development are also discussed. (author). 5 refs, 3 figs, 7 tabs