Peaceful Atom: Russia expands energy presence in Asia
Russia is already building the largest nuclear power plant in India, and now it will build Vietnam's first nuclear power plant. Experts are confident that Russia, as one of the world leaders in the field of nuclear energy, has every opportunity to expand its presence in the countries of the Global South. Izvestia found out what economic, technological and geopolitical advantages such a partnership provides.
Large-scale projects
Moscow and Hanoi have signed an intergovernmental agreement on the construction of two units of the Ninh Thuan-1 nuclear power plant (NPP) with a total capacity of 2.4 thousand MW.
The signing ceremony was attended by the Prime Ministers of the Russian Federation and Vietnam, Mikhail Mishustin and Pham Minh Tinh, as well as the head of Rosatom, Alexei Likhachev, and the head of the Office of the Government of Vietnam, Tran Van Shon.
"The agreement regulates the terms and main directions of cooperation between the parties within the framework of the plant construction project, which provides for the construction of two Russian-designed power units with VVER-1200 reactors with a total installed capacity of 2.4 thousand. MW," Rosatom said.
The construction site of the Leningrad NPP-2 complex
The future facility will be built following the example of the already existing Leningrad NPP-2. In particular, the design of power units 1 and 2 will form the basis.
The Kremlin called the decision to build a nuclear power plant in Vietnam a breakthrough. This project, according to the idea, will determine the vector of interstate cooperation in the nuclear field for the coming decades.
According to experts, the decision was the culmination of a long-term process of the republic's return to nuclear energy.
— Russia is thus gaining a foothold in one of the fastest growing energy markets in Asia. The total capacity of Vietnam's first nuclear power plant is about 2.4 GW. Even with 80% utilization, this is estimated at about 17 TWh per year, a significant amount for the economy, where, according to the IEA, demand for electricity is expected to double by 2030," says Vadim Petrov, Deputy chairman of the Interdepartmental Arctic Agenda Working Group of the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment
Construction of Kudankulam NPP in India
This is not Russia's only "Asian" nuclear energy project. For example, the Kudankulam NPP, the country's largest nuclear power plant and the flagship project of Russian—Indian technological and energy cooperation, is already under construction in India.
Two power units have already been connected to the Indian national grid. The third and fourth will be built in 2026-2027, the fifth and sixth — by 2030. The total capacity of the future NPP is 6 GW.
"Atomic window"
According to experts, such large—scale projects create a powerful foundation for expanding Russia's presence in Asia by exporting Russian nuclear technologies and infrastructure.
In Southeast and East Asia, there is a chronic shortage of electricity amid rapid industrial growth. Russia is actively promoting not only classic high-power nuclear power plants here, but also small modular reactors (MMR), as well as floating power units (PEB), notes Sergey Tronin, Associate Professor at the Department of Financial and Investment Management at the Graduate School of Management Faculty of the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation.
— In Vietnam, in addition to nuclear power plants, Russia is building a Nuclear Science and Technology Center, and negotiations are underway with Myanmar on the construction of low-power nuclear power plants (based on RITM-200 reactors). Russia offers Indonesia projects of both land-based and floating nuclear power plants for the energy supply of numerous islands. Thailand and the Philippines are very interested in Russian MMR technologies for remote areas and industrial clusters," the economist clarifies.
In addition, the global "atomic window" is opening. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), there are now more than 70 GW of nuclear capacity under construction in the world, and more than 40 countries have plans to expand nuclear energy.
"Turnkey"
Russia, as one of the leaders in the field of nuclear energy, especially in the field of operation of nuclear power plants (NPP), construction of new facilities and export of nuclear technologies, has huge opportunities. Especially considering that the construction of a nuclear power plant is a turnkey project.
This gives Russia unconditional economic and technological advantages. First, stable exports of technologies and services. Nuclear power plant maintenance and fuel supply are tasks for decades. Plus— the subsequent decommissioning.
— Russia's competitive advantage lies in the fact that not only the reactor is exported, but the entire infrastructure platform: design, construction, fuel cycle, personnel training, service and technological transfer. For Russia, these are long export contracts, high added value, machine-building workload, and geo-economic impact. The portfolio of foreign orders in this area exceeds $200 billion," says Vadim Petrov.
It is also important that Russia has full control over the nuclear fuel cycle.
"Russia dominates uranium enrichment (about 20-27% of the global market) and spent fuel reprocessing, which makes it possible to extract valuable substances and reduce the need for new uranium developments,— explains Mikhail Khachaturian, Associate Professor at the Department of Strategic and Innovative Development at the University of Finance.
Mutual benefits
Such cooperation also provides powerful geo-economic benefits: by building a nuclear power plant for a partner, Russia becomes not just a supplier, but a strategic ally over the horizon of 50-60 years of operation of the facility.
— The presence of Russian nuclear technologies in Vietnam, India, Bangladesh and potentially in other countries of the region creates an extensive network of infrastructure links. This strengthens Moscow's position in the emerging polycentric architecture of international relations," explains Nadezhda Kapustina, a professor at the Financial University.
The benefits are obvious for the countries of the Global South: reduced dependence on coal and gas imports, lower price volatility, low-carbon industrialization, and lower energy production costs.
All these are key elements of energy security and stimulating economic growth, strengthening the technological and energy sovereignty of developing economies.
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