Last year Russia’s nuclear power stations produced 103.5 TWh of electricity, according to the nuclear utility, Rosenergoatom. Electricity production was 95.6% of the 1997 level. The production of electricity by Rosenergoatom facilities increased from 85.38 to 85.42 TWh. The overall decline was due to decreased generation by the Leningrad nuclear power station, which is not part of the national utility.
Rosenergoatom said that in 1998 at its facilities average tariffs on electricity were 8% less than at thermal power stations. Nuclear power tariffs are on an average 40% less than for coal-fired electricity. Last year the share of payment for nuclear-produced electricity in cash and ‘cash-like resources’ increased 1.5-2 times. The average wage of workers at nuclear power plants increased by 20% in 1998, which is below inflation. According to Rosenergoatom executive director Leonid Melamed, wage arrears have been brought down by 30% since October.
There were 102 malfunctions registered in 1998 (23 more than in 1997). Of these, one was rated at INES level 2 and three at level 1. There were 27 unscheduled power stoppages compared with 18 in 1997.
