With the beginning of autumn you can hear the question: "What date is the day of the atomic worker?" This is due to the fact that citizens of the country are used to: professional holidays are celebrated on weekends in a particular week of the month. Here the situation is different. By a decree of the President of the Russian Federation (June 3, 2005), a specific date is determined - September 28. Since 2008, the Republic of Kazakhstan has joined the celebration.
Rosatom
Before the holiday was established, more than 250 thousand employees of three hundred and sixty enterprises of the nuclear industry celebrated a professional holiday together with power engineers on December twenty-second. The industry is headed by the state corporation Rosatom (since 2007), uniting in its composition:
- Industrial companies for civilian use.
- Nuclear weapons enterprises.
- Research institute of nuclear physicists.
- Icebreaking fleet.
The state corporation is headed by Sergey Kiriyenko, once the youngest head of the Government of the Russian Federation (1998).
Nuclear Day is a kind of industry report to the country, because the powers of the state corporation also include nuclear safety, the development of science and the fulfillment of international obligations.
Industry History
The day of September 28 is not determined by chance. The date is related to 1942, when the decree of the GKO of the USSR approved the beginning of work on uranium and created a special laboratory. Academician I.V. Kurchatov, whose name now bears the main scientific center for nuclear energy, headed the scientific research. The war limited the possibilities of scientific research, so the first nuclear tests in 1945 were conducted by the Americans. After World War II, work on the use of nuclear energy for military purposes was intensified, for which an interdepartmental committee was even created under the leadership of L.P. Beria.
August 1949 is a historic date. This is the time of the first nuclear tests in Semipalatinsk, 32 months after the launch of the first nuclear reactor. Despite the difficulties of the postwar years, the Soviet Union took as much time as the United States. The day of the nuclear scientist in Russia is celebrated by the entire scientific community involved in an outstanding event. The scientist Lev Ryabev recalls that school graduates after the August days of 1949 rushed to the physics departments to participate in the race with a likely opponent. A third of his classmates today work in the nuclear industry. The world's first nuclear power plant, where the atom was put at the service of man, was a power station in the city of Obninsk (July 1954).
Nuclear industry of Russia
Today, 10 nuclear power plants operate in the country, whose share in electricity generation is 18.6%. And in the European part of Russia it exceeds 33%. The largest nuclear power plants are Balakovskaya (see the photo of S.V. Kiriyenko’s visit there), Kalininskaya (closest to the capital), Kursk and Leningradskaya. Currently, eight more power units are under construction in the country and thirty-eight - abroad. Russia is the only state that owns an atomic icebreaker fleet. Soon, a floating nuclear power plant will be commissioned, the construction of which is carried out at the Baltic Plant.
Nuclear Day is a celebration for those involved in the mining of uranium. In terms of nuclear fuel reserves, Russia is in third place in the world, behind Australia and Kazakhstan. In 2015, uranium production amounted to 3 thousand tons, which brought the country to second place on the planet. After the tragic events in Chernobyl, science focused on the issue of nuclear energy safety.
Nuclear industry of Kazakhstan
The Republic of Kazakhstan, which is part of the USSR, was the most important component of the country's nuclear power. On its territory is located not only the Semipalatinsk test site, but also the largest Ulba plant, which produced nuclear fuel components. In May 2008, President Nazarbayev signed a decree on the establishment of a professional holiday on September 28. Nuclear Day in Kazakhstan, as in Russia, is dedicated to the events of 1942. Having chosen a nuclear-free future, the country closed the infamous testing ground, but is doing a lot for the development of the nuclear industry.
Kazakhstan provides 33% of the world's uranium needs, being the leader in its production. Eleven enterprises employ about 10 thousand workers. In total, more than 25 thousand people are preparing to celebrate a professional holiday. Kazatomprom and Rosatom have joined forces to create the Uranium Enrichment Center in order to offer customers not raw materials but finished fuel. To date, there are no operating nuclear power plants in the country, but the plans for 2018 are to begin the construction of the first station.
Congratulation
Nuclear Day is not a day off, but traditionally all festive events are planned for September 28th. It is customary in the media to congratulate those who were at the origins of the creation of the industry, and who are directly related to it today. The best employees and scientists are awarded prizes, including those from the world organization WANO. Last year, the nuclear industry celebrated its 70th anniversary (counting from the launch of the first reactor), so the celebration was held on a special scale. The industry was deservedly called the technological pillar of the state. Every year in Moscow, a large festive concert with the performance of pop stars is held, among which Sofia Rotaru is especially popular.
Congratulations on the day of the nuclear scientist were received in Kazakhstan, where the nuclear industry is the hallmark of the country. In 2015, it was headed by A.K. Zhumagaliev, who came from the Ministry of Investment and Development. In the country, the best in the profession are awarded the title of Honored Worker of the Nuclear Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan with the presentation of a gold or silver badge. In Russia - Honored Worker of the Nuclear Industry of the Russian Federation. In honor of the anniversary, a special medal was awarded to industry veterans.
