Each year, thousands of students visit USA fleet member PSEG Nuclear and its Energy & Environmental Resource Center (EERC) community information center. Recently, a group of students from the Russian “closed city” of Novouralsk made the visit as they toured the United States to learn more about the American nuclear industry. The visit was organized at the request of the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) who worked with the Russian Embassy in Washington, D.C. to coordinate the trip.

The Russian students study at the Rosatom School in Novouralsk which specializes in educating students for careers in nuclear energy. The city is “closed” with many settlement and travel restrictions because it is home to the Ural Electrochemical Integrated Plant, the world’s largest producer of enriched uranium. Located nearly 1,800 miles from Moscow, Novouralsk was established during World War II and remained a “secret city” until 1994 when the government acknowledged its important role to the nuclear industry.

Dmitrii Cherepanov, vice-mayor of Novouralsk, participated in the visit and said it’s important to show the students the benefits of a nuclear career in the hopes that the city can retain the most talented students to remain there and work in the nuclear energy industry. He said in some cases, up to four generations of a family have worked in the plant, and that’s something the city cherishes. They hope that they can continue that tradition.

“When we host a group of students, we take great pride in teaching them about energy and the environment,” explained PSEG’s Theresa Widger who runs the EERC. “The Russian students taught us so much about their city and why nuclear power is so important to them. It was a great learning experience and a special visit that we’ll remember for a long time.”

As part of the visit, the Russian students also had an opportunity to interact with students from the Salem County Vocational Technical Schools’ Energy Academy sponsored by PSEG Nuclear. The Energy Academy curriculum focuses on power plant design and nuclear energy and features a PSEG Nuclear retiree as the lead instructor.

Students from Novouralsk enjoyed touring the exhibits in the EERC. Photo taken by Brad Kingett/South Jersey Times.

PSEG’s Theresa Widger points out the reactor core exhibit at the EERC. Photo taken by Brad Kingett/South Jersey Times.