Scientific Leader of NIKIET
Professor
Eugene O. Adamov, Dr. (Sci.)

Mail address: 101000, Moscow, P.O.B. 788

Phone: (499) 264 4610

Fax: (499) 788 2052

Biography in outline:

Born on April 28, 1939, in Moscow

Education - mechanical engineer, Moscow Aviation Institute (1962)

Candidate of Technical Sciences (1977)

Doctor of Technical Sciences (1984)

Professor (1989)

Engineer, Chief Operation Engineer, Chief Engineer of Division, Deputy to Department Director, Chief Engineer of Department, Chief Engineer of the Institute, Deputy Director of I.V. Kurchatov IAE (1962-1986)

Director of NIKIET (1986-1998)

General Designer (1988)

Member of the Board of the Soviet (now Russian) Nuclear Society (from 1989 to the present day)

Member of the Technical Advisory Committee for ITER Project (1993-1998)

Minister of RF for Atomic Energy (1998-2001)

Scientific Leader of NIKIET (1998 to this day)

Adviser to Chairman of RF Government (2002-2004)

Member of WNA Advisory Council (2002 to this day)

Honoured Worker of Science and Technology (1995)

Member of the Russian Engineering Academy (1995)

Author of more than 300 scientific publications.

Following graduation from the Moscow Aviation Institute in 1962, the working career of Evgeniy Adamov started at the I.V. Kurchatov Institute of Atomic Energy with the first experimental nuclear power facility with direct energy conversion "Romashka", a system for fine helium purification, and liquid metal technologies (Na, Na-K). At the Kurchatov Institute, E. Adamov carried out an independent series of studies on application of high-temperature coolants in self-contained nuclear power facilities and obtained some uncommon scientific results, protected by certificates of authorship and related, among other things, to primary circuit diagnostics and research in material properties under extreme conditions. Those results found application in a number of new developments, such as MHD systems.

The managerial abilities of E. Adamov were also appreciated: in 1968 he was appointed Chief Engineer of a division, promoted to the post of Deputy to Department Director in 1974, and to Chief Engineer and Deputy to IAE Director in 1981.

In 1975, E. Adamov initiated development of an integrated computer-aided design system, named "KAPRI", which represented an advanced development line in domestic engineering. Over the period of 1975-1985, he carried out an impressive package of multifarious studies, which underpinned the design principles for adaptable manufacturing systems and contributed to development of the software and hardware for integrated automation systems. The results of that effort were used at many research institutes and design bureaus of the country, and provided a framework for one of the sections in the Federal machine-building programme. He received his Candidate's degree in 1977 and his Doctorate in 1984; the academic status of professor was conferred upon him in 1989.

While working for the Kurchatov Institute, E. Adamov made a substantial contribution to the expansion and renovation of experimental facilities for basic and applied research, to construction of the "Tokamak-15" and "Gamma" installations, and of many test rigs, to upgrading of the reactors and loop facilities.

In 1986, E. Adamov became directly involved in the Chernobyl cleanup activities and together with other specialists explored the actual fuel scatter in the reactor building, which made it possible to minimise the size of the shelter, to reduce the associated material expenditures and the exposure of the construction personnel.

In November 1986, after the Chernobyl catastrophe, he came to lead NIKIET. It was under his management that the Institute carried out, within a reasonably short time, the critically important work on improving the safety of plants with RBMK reactors, which eliminated recurrence of Chernobyl-type accidents in the future and made it possible to prove that such plants could safely operate to the end of their design service life. The concept of upgrades for the first generation of RBMK plants, developed under his guidance, is being implemented. The first phases of upgrades were completed at Leningrad Units 1 and 2 and at Unit 1 of the Kursk NPP.

Extensive studies initiated by E. Adamov, including those with foreign participation within a number of international programmes aimed at RBMK safety enhancement, indicated that domestic NPPs were on a par with foreign plants of the same vintage in terms of their safety levels and demonstrated in a conclusive way that there were neither technical nor organisational reasons to demand closing down the Russian RBMKs before their designated time. The findings of those studies and the RBMK safety case supported by an international review resulted in an economic benefit for Russia due to continued operation of these plants, coming to billions of dollars.

In 1988, E. Adamov was appointed General Designer by a decree of the USSR Council of Ministers. During that period, he stepped up development of pressure-tube uranium-graphite power reactors of a new generation and, simultaneously, started serious activities to develop a nuclear technology of natural safety with a closed fuel cycle, which would deterministically exclude the possibility of severe accidents at NPPs, resolve the problem of radiation-equivalent management of radioactive waste, would consolidate the non-proliferation regime and put the nuclear method of energy production on a competitive footing. E. Adamov is one of the authors of a new concept of future large-scale nuclear power development in Russia, which attaches great importance, among other things, to progressive transition from energy resources to nuclear electricity in the export balance of the country. Under Adamov's leadership, NIKIET and some other enterprises of the nuclear sector embarked on designing an underground nuclear co-generation plant with vessel-type boiling reactors using natural coolant circulation (VK-300).

On E. Adamov's initiative, the International Nuclear Safety Centre was set up in 1996 and the International Environmental Safety Centre in 1999 - both affiliated with the Minatom of Russia and the U.S. DOE. He was among the pioneers of the Nuclear Society of the USSR, now Nuclear Society of Russia, and is still a member of its Board.

E.O. Adamov is held in well-earned esteem both in our country and abroad. He spoke at the most significant scientific and public forums, representing Russian science and doing so in a creditable way. He is full member of the Russian Engineering Academy, and has more than 300 scientific publications. In 1987-1991, he acted as chief editor for the "Nuclear Engineering and Technology" series in the book of collected articles "Nuclear Science and Technology Issues". For many years, E. Adamov has been on the editorial board of the "Atomnaya energiya" (Nuclear Energy) Journal. He was directly involved and provided guidance in preparation and publication of an encyclopaedia volume on "Nuclear Engineering", carried out by the Branch specialists, experts of the Kurchatov Institute, Russian Academy of Science, and students of educational institutes.

Wide recognition of Prof. Adamov's scientific achievements, as well as his prominent role in training research and engineering specialists brought him the title of the "Honoured Worker of Science and Technology of the Russian Federation" in 1995.

Being a worthy follower of the traditions established by the first director of NIKIET, Academician N.A. Dollezhal, E. Adamov succeeded in keeping and even increasing the high scientific and productive potential of the Institute under conditions of the general economic stagnation in the country.

In 1998-2001, E. Adamov held the office of Minister of the Russian Federation for Atomic Energy, in which he showed his worth as a true statesman. His inherent traits of a leader and manager, augmented by nearly 40 years of working in nuclear science and engineering, enabled him in these difficult times to steer efficiently one of the high-tech branches of the national economy and to secure budgetary allocations for the most important projects and objectives. The most significant achievements of the nuclear branch, which are directly associated with the name and the activities of E. Adamov as Minister, to mention a few, are the nuclear electricity production surpassing the Soviet level (Minatom was the first branch of economy to have attained this after the break-up of the USSR), bringing on line Unit 1 of the Volgodonsk (Rostov) NPP, and the resumed construction of the nuclear power units found fairly close to completion (Kursk 5 and Kalinin 3). Activities picked up considerably in building foreign NPPs to Russian designs - Bushehr 1 in Iran, Tianwan Units 1 and 2 in China, and in preparing a Basic Ordering Agreement for construction of the Kudankulam NPP in India. An extensive programme was commenced for decommissioning of nuclear-powered submarines and surface ships and for environmental remediation of the nuclear sites taken over from the Ministry of Defence by Minatom pursuant to a governmental decree. The "Strategy of nuclear power development in Russia in the first half of the 21st century" was developed and endorsed by the RF Government, and a legal framework was prepared for Russia to enter the international nuclear fuel reprocessing market. E. Adamov continued to guide and encourage the development of the research and engineering effort, which later served as a basis for President Putin to come out with his Initiative on energy supply for sustainable development of mankind, radical solution of nuclear proliferation problems and global environmental improvement, announced at the UN Millennium Summit on September 6, 2000.

With the aim of reviewing the nuclear technology options and selecting the most promising ones for future development, E. Adamov initiated an IAEA project for innovative nuclear reactors and fuel cycles (INPRO), which was later joined by 22 countries.

In 2002-2004, still working as Scientific Leader of NIKIET, E. Adamov acted as Adviser to Chairman of the Russian Government and took active part in developing the "Energy strategy of Russia for the period to 2020", which was approved by a governmental decree on August 28.