MOSCOW, Sept. 13 (UPI) -- Russia's nuclear chief says growing energy demand and declining domestic supply means more reliance on nuclear energy is inevitable.
Sergei Kiriyenko, head of Russia's civilian nuclear arm, the Federal Agency for Nuclear Power, said Tuesday nuclear power will need to expand to feed Russia's nuclear consumption.
RIA Novosti reports coal and natural gas reserves will be gone in 50 years while electricity consumption has grown 5.5 percent in just the last eight months.
Russia's uranium makes 8 percent of the global product, but Kiriyenko says it will mine uranium to serve 60 to 70 percent of its demand.
Russian oil and natural gas has been relied upon by the international market, bolstering Russia's economy.
Kiriyenko said Russia will build between 42 and 58 nuclear power plants by 2030, in addition to the 10 plants with 31 reactors on line now.
He said Russia needs 300 gigawatts more of power to cover it's energy needs.
