RUSSIA'S NUCLEAR EXTENSION

N - August 26, 2024 - In accordance with the requirements of the Rules for the Development and Approval of Documents for the Promising Development of the Electric Power Industry, approved by the government decree in 2022, a draft general scheme for the placement of electric power facilities to 2042 has been published for public discussion.

Implementation of the New General Scheme (Novoi Genskhemi) for the placement of generating capacities will support economic growth in the Urals, the Far East and Siberia, Rosatom said in a statement. “The draft of the new general layout for the placement of generating capacities takes into account Rosatom’s proposals. The construction of modern nuclear power units will support economic growth in the Urals, Siberia and the Far East.”

According to Rosatom General Director Alexei Likhachev, the implementation of the order of the Russian President to achieve a 25% share of nuclear energy in the country’s energy balance by 2045 will create the basis for strong economic growth.

“The new general scheme provides for the construction of 28 GWe of new nuclear power generation by 2042. By implementing such an ambitious task, we will be able to provide the country’s regions with clean energy for decades to come and create the basis for strong economic growth,” Likhachev noted.

The document, submitted for public discussion, includes Rosatom’s proposals for the construction of 37 new nuclear power units of large, medium and low power. The project provides for the construction of replacement capacities for the Smolensk, Leningrad, Kola, Beloyarsk, Kursk and Novovoronezh NPPs, as well as the construction of 11 new nuclear power plants. One of the features of the new general scheme is that, in addition to traditional power units with pressurised water reactors, it is planned to accommodate innovative units with Generation IV technology.

Rosatom is offering:

• optimised high-power units (1200 MWe) with VVER-1200 pressurised water reactors;
• innovative units of medium power (600 MWe) with fast neutron reactors that will significantly expand the fuel base by involving uranium-238 in the fuel cycle);
• low-power nuclear power plants (with a capacity of up to 110 MWe).

In general, the largest increase in nuclear generation is expected in Siberia, the Far East and the Urals (more than 12.7 GWe). By 2042, it is planned to build 13 modern large and medium power units. Currently, these regions have high growth rates in electricity consumption.

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