Page 6 - AsiaElec Week 40

AsiaElec COMMENTARY AsiaElec
Russia renews nuclear offensive in frontier markets
Rosatom is fostering closer atomic energy ties with Asia and Africa as Moscow shows off its new green credentials, writes Richard Lockhart
AFRICA
WHAT:
Rosatom is launching a new marketing drive for its nuclear technology in Africa
WHY:
Russia has ratified the Paris Agreement, allowing it to use the fight against climate change to talk up atomic energy
WHAT NEXT:
Nuclear power’s suitability in African markets is still far from clear, and governments face serious questions over high costs, grid capabilities and fuel securityy
RUSSIA’S Rosatom has this week been talking up nuclear power, taking its cue from Moscow’s recent ratification of the Paris Agreement.
Atomic energy will form a key component of Russia’s efforts against climate change, Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev confirmed this week.
“From September 2019, the fight against cli- mate change is no longer abstract for Russia: it is a concrete, firm commitment, because in Sep- tember Russia signed the Paris Agreement. We’re proud to partake in this fight and ready for it,” said Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev.
He argued that nuclear power could now be promoted as a way for countries to reduce emis- sions, an issue that can no longer be ignored by governments.
“Nuclear should be seen as brothers in arms with other green energy sources like solar and wind. The environmental aspect of energy gen- eration has ceased to be secondary for the world’s decision-makers and will soon be the primary consideration in choosing energy sources,” he went on.
Africa is playing a key role in Russia’s promo- tion of nuclear power, with Egypt already build- ing Russian reactors and a long list of African states being courted by Rosatom.
In Asia, Bangladesh is a key Russian cus- From September
tomer, with Rosatom already building two VVER-1200 reactors at Rooppur.
The Kremlin views nuclear power, and seem- ingly now the fight against climate change, as key levers in exerting soft power and economic influence in Africa.
2019, the fight against climate change is no
Russia eyes developing Asia and Africa as a longer abstract
potential market for its nuclear hardware, and no doubt in future for the country’s yet-to-be devel- oped renewable energy technology.
A key event will be the upcoming Russia-Af- rica Summit in Sochi at the end of October, which a number of African leaders will attend.
Country profiles
Uganda is the most recent success for Russian atomic diplomacy. In September, the two coun- tries signed an inter-governmental agreement
for Russia: it is
a concrete, firm
commitment
Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev
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w w w . N E W S B A S E . c o m Week 40 08 •October•2019