To: Participants in the ATOMEXPO 2019 International Forum

Vladimir Putin
President of the Russian Federation

Welcome to the 11th International Forum ATOMEXPO 2019. Over the past years, the forum has strengthened its reputation and become a major international industry event and a popular discussion platform for topical issues regarding nuclear energy and the nuclear industry as well as for establishing high-potential business contacts.

These days, nuclear technologies open up completely new opportunities for the development of medicine, the creation of unique materials, space exploration and the development of the Arctic territory. They contribute to the constant supply of energy required to keep the economy strong. Russia has long-established powerful potential in terms of workforce, research and production. We are extensively involved in international cooperation and offer quality, reliable, safe and environmentally-friendly solutions to our partners.

To: Participants in the ATOMEXPO 2019 International Forum

Alexey Likhachev
Director General
Rosatom State Corporation

I am happy to welcome all of you to the 11th ATOMEXPO Forum; this is our second meeting at a new site – in Sochi. The forum is getting bigger with each passing year: it has transformed from a Russian nuclear industry event attended by foreign partners into an international industry discussion event for which Rosatom provides a platform.

The motto for the ATOMEXPO 2019 is “Nuclear for better life”. The global agenda for the use of atomic technology is expanding rapidly. In addition to being an eco-friendly and reliable source of energy that significantly contributes to combating climate change, the peaceful atom also facilitates the development of science, education, medicine, and agriculture.

To: Participants in the ATOMEXPO 2019 International Forum

Sergei Kiriyenko
First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office of the Russian Federation,
Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation

More and more countries are coming to the realization that developing nuclear technologies is an absolute must. After all, such technologies are irreplaceable to the achievement of humankind’s sustainable development goals.

There is a growing interest in nuclear energy as a reliable, clean, safe and affordable power source needed for economic growth and infrastructural development. However, not just the energy application is developing but the non-energy use of radiation technologies is also flourishing. These technologies are playing an increasingly important role in medicine, agriculture, mechanical engineering, transport and natural resources development, among others.

To: Participants in the ATOMEXPO 2019 International Forum

William D. Magwood, IV
NEA Director-General

Some three years after the Paris agreement, the path towards a low-carbon energy future remains unclear. Meeting the goals that many countries have set for themselves will mean substantially reducing the carbon intensity of the electric power sector by as much as a factor of ten. At the same time, the increasing electrification of industry, transport and buildings will only further reinforce the central role of electricity generation. It will be crucial that the increasing amounts of electricity being used come from clean-energy sources.

We have at our disposal technically mature, low-carbon alternatives − including solar and wind technology, hydroelectricity and nuclear power − to help countries reach their environmental and energy security goals.

To: Participants in the ATOMEXPO 2019 International Forum

Agneta Rising
Director General, World Nuclear Association

In 2018 more nuclear capacity was added to the grid than has been seen for almost 30 years and 2019 looks set to beat that record again. But it is vital that the rate of nuclear new build accelerates if we are going to be able to meet our future energy needs sustainably.

Global carbon emissions jumped to an all-time high in 2018. At a time when the latest IPCC report says that emissions must be cut almost immediately, investment in alternatives to fossil fuels, particularly nuclear, needs to be increased substantially.

We must find alternatives, because the global hunger for energy is set to continue to rise, driven by the growth of emerging economies and the increase of the global population, and the many more uses to which electricity will be applied, such as desalination and recharging electric vehicles.

To: Participants in the ATOMEXPO 2019 International Forum

Peter Prozesky
Chief Executive Officer, World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO)

Almost 30 years have passed since the world’s nuclear power operators met in Moscow to form the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO). It was a great achievement and heralded a bold new era of collaboration between operators and nations – regardless of geography or political affiliation – all with the shared objective of maximising global nuclear safety and reliability.

Since then, the services that we deliver to our members have gone from strength to strength - and the overall margin of safety in the industry has undoubtedly improved. However we must never be complacent - the journey to nuclear safety is continuous - nuclear power plants should continue to measure themselves against the best globally to achieve excellence.