Just several years ago only a few knew about JSC Atomredmetzoloto (Uranium Holding ARMZ). Now, this is one of SC Rosatom’s constituents; the holding which is the world’s second in uranium resources and which unites assets on three continents. The last, crisis year of 2009 became really a success year for Atomredmetzoloto: the company was acquiring assets abroad and even became the largest shareholder of the Canadian uranium miner Uranium One.

Victor ORLOV participated in the creation of first nuclear power stations with fast-neutron reactors and was among the authors of the new concept of the development of nuclear power based on such reactors. This concept was reflected in the Strategy of Russia’s Nuclear Development for the First Half of the XXI Century and was used as input for the Russian President’s initiative at the Millennium Summit, which was aimed at sustainable development of nuclear power, non-proliferation of nuclear materials and environmental protection.

These days, nuclear power is on the rise. Yuri Sokolov, Deputy Director of the IAEA, has been telling us about the Agency’s approaches to ensuring stable and safe development of peaceful nuclear technologies and their advancement into new countries, while maintaining the existing non-proliferation arrangements. − Yuri Alekseevich, can you please briefly tell us about yourself. Why did you choose nuclear physics as your trade?