Despite major problems in the 1980s, Russia is now taking a prominent role in nuclear energy initiatives. Efficiency of nuclear generation has increased dramatically over the last few years.
Exports are a major policy and economic objective.
In the early 1980s Russia seemed to be taking impressive steps to contest world leadership in civil development of nuclear energy. But a technological arrogance developed, in the context of an impatient Soviet establishment. Then Atommash sunk into the Volga sediments, Chernobyl tragically vindicated western reactor design criteria, and the political structure which was not up to the task of safely utilising such technology fell apart. Atommash produced a total of only three reactor pressure vessels, instead of the eight per year intended. Chernobyl became a byword for Soviet incompetence.