Russia claims to be the world leader in nuclear technology, many countries have to depend on it

Russian President Vladimir Putin declared on March 14 that his country is the world leader in nuclear technology, and is creating nuclear energy for some countries from scratch. Many countries still depend on Russia in this field.

Rostov Nuclear Power Plant in Russia. (Source: TASS)

Speaking online at the pouring of concrete for the foundation of Unit 7 of the Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant, President Putin said: “Russia is the world leader in nuclear technology. With our support, nuclear energy is created in many countries from scratch.”

President Putin added that specialists are being trained in a number of countries and all necessary infrastructure is being developed in full compliance with strict environmental standards. For example, Russian nuclear corporation Rosatom is building 22 nuclear power units in seven countries.

In addition, President Putin noted that nuclear energy is also being actively developed in the country. According to the Kremlin website, it is expected that by 2045, the share of nuclear power in Russia's energy balance will increase to 25%.

Central and Eastern European countries are particularly dependent on Russian fuel. A total of 18 Russian-designed nuclear reactors – in Slovakia, Bulgaria, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Finland – currently operate on Russian fuel and rely on Russian technology.

Nuclear fuel sourced from Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom and its units helps generate nearly half of all electricity produced in Slovakia and Hungary and more than a third in the Czech Republic and Bulgaria.

The EU’s dependence stems from the outsized influence of Russia’s nuclear industry globally. Russia accounts for more than 45% of the world’s uranium enrichment capacity, supplying atomic fuel to nuclear power plants in a number of countries, including the United States, which despite tough sanctions against Moscow continues to pay $1 billion (more than €900 million) a year for fuel from Rosatom.

Data from the Euratom Supply Agency shows that nearly 20% of the raw uranium imported by the EU comes from Russia, with another 23% coming from Kazakhstan, where Rosatom also has a large influence. Russia also supplies a large proportion of fuel rods for nuclear power plants in Europe.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/nga-tuyen-bo-dung-dau-the-gioi-trong-linh-vuc-cong-nghe-hat-nhan-nhieu-nuoc-phai-phu-thuoc-264227.html