While the juggernaut that was Russia's nuclear industry is moving down a new road with new drivers, there is growing concern in some quarters at what is viewed as a lack of real direction and firm leadership. The Russian government reforms of March 2004 saw the dismantling of the powerful Atomic Energy Ministry (Minatom), which had controlled the industry for decades. The Federal Atomic Energy Agency (FAEA) that replaced it was an emasculated version of the ministry with reduced powers and personnel. The aim of the reforms was to streamline and centralise administration, increase efficiency and prepare the ground for putting the nuclear industry on a more commercial footing. Many eminent nuclear scientists believe there is still a long way to go. Vladimir Asmolov, the coordinating director of RRC (Russian Research Centre) Kurchatov Institute, said the management reforms "have nothing to do with improvement of efficiency, strictly otherwise."
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