BRICS Creates Nuclear Energy Alliance

By The Inspirer.

BRICS+ member states, including Russia, South Africa, Ethiopia, China, Brazil, Iran and Bolivia, have held the first meeting within the framework of the Nuclear Energy Platform being created. During the meeting, top executives of the largest nuclear companies and organisations have discussed the initiative and outlined further plans.

BRICS is an intergovernmental organization comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates. Originally identified to highlight investment opportunities, the grouping evolved into a geopolitical bloc, with their governments meeting annually at formal summits and coordinating multilateral policies since 2009.

Experts claim that by 2050 the BRICS countries will account for half of the global energy generation and consumption, with nuclear power playing an important role in meeting the growing energy demand. The Platform will promote best practices and advanced nuclear energy and other nuclear technologies in the BRICS and BRICS+ markets, providing incentives and models for nuclear projects in the BRICS member countries.

“Practically all the states of the association are implementing projects in the field of nuclear energy. Today, many BRICS members are the technological drivers of the international nuclear market. The common experience can and should be used and replicated throughout the BRICS space and on the planet as a whole. Therefore, we propose to join forces within the framework of the BRICS nuclear platform, a voluntary alliance of companies, professional nuclear communities and NGOs supporting the development and implementation of nuclear technologies,” said Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom.

 Currently, in addition to the 390 GW of operating nuclear power units, another 66 GW of nuclear capacity is under construction globally. The BRICS countries are making a decisive contribution to global nuclear power. As early as 2030, at least two-thirds of the global nuclear energy growth will come from the BRICS countries.

Africa is actively engaged in developing nuclear projects across the continent today. South Africa’s Kouberg nuclear power plant (NPP) is operating, while Egypt is actively constructing the new El-Dabaa NPP – the installation of a core catcher body commenced at NPP’s Unit 3 in the beginning of October.

Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria and Sudan have already engaged with the IAEA to assess their readiness to embark on a nuclear programme. Algeria, Tunisia, Uganda and Zambia are also mulling the possibility of nuclear power.

Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Mali, the Republic of Guinea, Burundi have signed memorandums with Rosatom to establish strong nuclear energy ties.

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