The Russian nuclear industry has been going from strength to strength, ever since its inception in 1945. The year 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the country’s achieving success in the nuclear energy sector. Over this long history, nuclear units have appeared in many other countries.
On 20 August 1945, the USSR’s State Defense Committee decided to organise a Special Committee and the First Main Directorate to carry out the work on the country’s atomic project. The latter became a platform for the creation of the Ministry of Medium Machine Building in 1953.
The idea of using nuclear power for power plants, ships and aircraft was proposed in April 1947, with the country launching its first nuclear power plant in Obninsk in 1954.
Only 10 years after launching the Obninsk Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), the first pressurised water (PWR) VVER reactor was launched at the Novovoronezh NPP, with a capacity of only 210 MW.
There are currently six models of power units with reactors of different capacity within the VVER family, including VVER-1200. This Gen 3+ reactor, which boasts a unique combination of active and passive safety systems, are the main Rosatom export product.
This is evidenced by the batch of agreements for the construction of 36 power units in 12 countries, including Egypt’s El Dabaa NPP that is based on this type of reactor technology.
Undoubtedly, the State Atomiс Energy Corporation ROSATOM is deemed as a global technological leader. The company is tirelessly aspiring to not merely be ahead of the curve when it comes to the state-of the-art nuclear technologies.
Since 2007, ROSATOM has built 16 new nuclear power units in Russia and abroad. Among them are new Gen 3+ units at the Leningrad and Novovoronezh NPPs, an innovative power unit with a fast breeder reactor BN-800, which is testing the technology of the future.
In addition, the main achievement of this year is the world’s only floating nuclear power plant, which has already been launched and connected to the grid.
“We are exploring new technologies, alongside building a wind farm in Adygea which is the largest in Russia,” said Alexey Likhachev, Director General of ROSATOM, “We are also introducing the “Smart City” software package, as well as engaging in additive technologies and the production of energy storage devices, digital products, composite and polymeric materials, and nuclear medicine.”
The company’s mission does not merely encompass the enhancement of their operation and the acquisition of the latest technologies. They have also been focusing on developing their human resources since day one, with a ROSATOM employee trained to be at the centre of scientific, educational, and social projects, in order to reach their full potential, and achieve their goals.
“Despite the 75th anniversary, our industry is still young and progressive,” Likhachev said, “The key to our success lies in the experience of veterans and the enthusiasm of young people, coupled with the professionalism and dedication inherent in every nuclear professional.”
Today ROSATOM work with more than 50 countries. Historically, Russia’s nuclear industry has undertaken successful cooperation with countries from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, cooperation that has been evolving for decades.
Russia and Egypt enjoy excellent ties based on mutual respect that dates back to the late 1950s, when Russia successfully took up the challenge of building Egypt’s Aswan High Dam.
Russia also took part in constructing Egypt’s first research reactor in Inshas that has been launched in 1961 based on Russian technologies and with the help of Russian specialists.
Establishing the El Dabaa NPP will also bring about significant development and further infrastructure around it and nearby. The plant will enhance the quality of life at the areas proximate to it, especially when as it is set to be Egypt’s first NPP, and it will have a prominent impact on different sectors far beyond the construction.
