Prospects for the Development of Nuclear Energy in the Russian Federation in the Context of the Global Energy Transition

Abstract

The Paris Agreement was signed in 2015 and its purpose is to reduce the greenhouse emissions. The energy sector is accountable for more than 78.9% of them. The reasons for energy transfer are also the depletion of resources; the threat of "Dutch disease"; wear of "traditional" power plants; the consequences of the of nitrogen and sulfur compounds emissions. The Russian Federation ranks 4th in the world in the production of nuclear energy, The share of nuclear power plants in total electricity generation in 2021 was 19.96%, in the world – 10%. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, electricity production and uranium mining have declined globally, but by 2021 the industry has bounced back. Promising areas of nuclear energy development in Russia are the reconstruction of existing plants and the development of nuclear power plants in Chukotka, the Trans-Baikal region, the Republic of Buryatia, and the Krasnoyarsk region. The geographical features make it possible to safely build new nuclear power plants they are situated within the Eurasian lithospheric plate. There are rich deposits of uranium in the Russian Federation. Nevertheless, the dependence on imported equipment, construction materials and the socio-economic features of the country stifl e the development of the nuclear industry. It is necessary to overcome dependence on depleted resources, diversify the energy complex, reduce harmful emissions, and modernize power plants to reduce production costs. Is nuclear power likely to become the "green" future of our country in the context of the energy transition?