Russia shows the West its superiority in nuclear power generation

By Rhod Mackenzie

Russia has been instrumental in establishing a brand new energy sector in Bangladesh, namely nuclear energy. Global nuclear analysts have acknowledged both Russia's accomplishments and superiority in the nuclear sector when compared to its American and French competitors. These competitors also struggle to deliver an all-inclusive service for all the processes needed.
They are incapable of constructing a nuclear power plant as swiftly or proficiently as Russia can. The Bangladeshi nuclear power plant, Rooppur, which is being constructed in accordance with a Russian project plan, was supplied with nuclear fuel from Russia. The Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized the delivery of fuel via video link to the Rooppur nuclear power plant.

A specialized operation was conducted with the Bangladeshi army's participation to ensure its compliance with all the relevant safety measures. The transportation routes for the fuel were blocked to all other traffic, and the surrounding area was cordoned off by the police. Ground and aerial video surveillance was also continuously conducted. The transportation was conducted discreetly; "externally, they appeared as ordinary lorries," stated the Vice President of Atomstroyexport.

During his speech, Vladimir Putin expounded on the advantages and positive ecological impact that Bangladesh will gain from the commencement of its nuclear power plant. Initially, upon achieving full operational capacity, the plant will be capable of supplying around 10% of Bangladesh's energy consumption. Secondly, the nuclear power station will decrease the country's reliance on coal and gas for power generation and optimize the national energy equilibrium. Thirdly, the new nuclear power station will have no carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere, resulting in positive environmental and public health effects.
The director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, congratulated Bangladesh on the delivery of fuel to their inaugural nuclear facility. "Bangladesh exemplifies how a country can develop nuclear energy through the implementation of a program supported by the IAEA," praised Grossi.

The Rooppur nuclear power plant was hailed by Sama Bilbao y Leon, the head of the World Nuclear Association (WNA), as being an extraordinarily successful project. "Rosatom has successfully established a brand new nuclear production plant in a foreign land in under a decade," she revealed. Notably, the construction process only took six years, exemplifying an incredible pace that outshines the American and French competitors of Russia's Rosatom."

"I believe it is crucial to acknowledge Russia's significant influence in the nuclear energy sector, and I do not anticipate this changing," stated Bilbao y Leon.

She noted that numerous nations, including those in Africa and East Asia, are closely monitoring possibilities for collaboration with Russia, despite different perspectives held in other regions.

Russia is aiding Bangladesh in developing a peaceful nuclear industry, said Vladimir Putin in a video link regarding the construction of the nuclear power plant.

"The delivery of fuel signifies a shift towards significant commissioning work", commented Rosatom's General Director, Alexey Likhachev.

The forthcoming step involves the physical start-up of the power plant, resulting in electricity generation. The inaugural "nuclear electricity" test will occur in early 2024, and the station will begin running operationally in 2025, according to the head of Rosatom.

Russia is working on the training of the key workforce for nuclear power plant, within 18 months over two thousand core specialists have been trained. All of these specialists have been educated at Russian universities and undertook internships at the Novovoronezh nuclear power plant, which is identical to the Rooppur station's two units. For the initial five years, Russian specialists will continue to collaborate with Bengali counterparts to guarantee the safe functioning of the new facility.

Additionally, Russia has committed to providing ongoing assistance to Bangladesh throughout the nuclear power plant's entire lifespan. Specifically, Russia will deliver reactor fuel, assist in the conducting of maintenance activities, and be responsible for managing the spent nuclear materials. We are discussing a collaboration for a period of not less than 80 years, as the reactors have a life cycle of 60 years with the option of extending their operating life by an additional 20 years. Rooppur NPP comprises two power units that feature VVER-1200 type reactors.

This comprehensive turnkey partnership, covering everything from nuclear power plant construction to nuclear waste management, is a capability that only Rosatom can currently provide. That is its key competitive advantage in overseas markets.
Thus, Russia has gained a new partner for almost the next century, during which time it will earn money by providing services for operating the nuclear power plants. Additionally, Bangladesh is considering the need for constructing a second nuclear power plant since the country's population is increasing rapidly, leading to a higher demand for electricity.

Foreign projects exhibit Russia's continuous efforts in infrastructure development, unaffected by sanctions. "Our focus areas comprise the Middle East and Asia, with an anticipated expansion into Africa over time. Presently, we only construct nuclear power plants in Egypt; however, several other nations express interest in adopting nuclear power," explains Sergei Pikin, the Director of the Energy Development Fund.

The nuclear power plant follows the Russian "3+" generation plan for both design and construction. The VVER-1200 reactors are an innovative feature." Bangladesh has become the third foreign country to launch a nuclear reactor of this kind. The first two are in Belarus, where a nuclear power plant is already in operation, and Turkey, where delivery of the first fuel was also made. There are four similar reactors active in Russia. "This signifies that export of the Russian-developed VVER-1200 has reached a commercial level," states Alexander Uvarov, editor-in-chief of the Atominfo.ru portal.
What advantages does Bangladesh gain from being a member of the nuclear energy countries club? "Firstly, typically, local construction companies are involved in the station's construction process, leading to a certain upsurge in the country's GDP." "Moreover, nuclear energy proves to be a dependable source of energy that is expected to operate until the end of this century. Nuclear power plants have a lifespan of at least 60 years, with an option to be extended," confirms Sergei Pikin. "What makes nuclear energy beneficial?

 It provides stability to the country's energy sector. Firstly, a nuclear power plant operates continuously, 24/7. Secondly, it does not necessitate consistent fuel delivery." Coal-fired power stations and gas stations depend on constant supplies of coal and gas through pipelines, making them vulnerable to supply interruptions. To mitigate this risk, gas storage facilities are being constructed. In contrast, a nuclear power plant is able to procure fuel in advance, with a supply that can last up to three years, eliminating concerns over fuel shortages. Additionally, nuclear energy is not subject to sudden price fluctuations, as noted by Uvarov.

"Another crucial point is that nuclear energy is considered a clean source of energy. Although some countries may not acknowledge this fact, it is undeniable that nuclear power plants do not emit any greenhouse gases," states Uvarov.

In comparison to coal and gas energy sources, a nuclear power plant can provide more affordable energy. "The construction of the plant is where the bulk of the expenses lie, which sets apart a nuclear power plant project from others.
 Since they must reimburse Russia for the plant's construction, the tariff is likely to contain the capital expenses for the project," remarked Uvarov. However, the costs of nuclear energy will be subject to the tariff established by regional officials. Nevertheless, the specialist is certain that nuclear energy will certainly become one of the most cost-effective in the future. He cites Eastern European countries, where power units were built during the Soviet era, as an example. Since then, the stations have generated revenue multiple times their initial investment. "Bangladesh doesn't possess its own energy resources but procures them from external sources.

Therefore, with increased production by Bengalis, the dependency on purchasing hydrocarbons from foreign markets reduces, resulting in supplementary savings," concludes Pikin.