Rosatom is actively developing cooperation with Latin America, despite the international situation. Ivan Dybov, President of Rosatom Latin America, told RIA Novosti in an interview about the successes achieved in the region, what new partners the state corporation will have, and what projects can already begin this year. Oleg Vyazmitinov was talking.– It is quite difficult for Russian companies to work with a number of countries in the new political and economic conditions.
Meanwhile, Latin American countries, unlike the West, have not imposed and do not intend to impose sanctions against Russia. What prospects does Rosatom see for itself in this region in these conditions?– First of all, it is important to note that the Rosatom State Corporation is not present in any sanctions list.
Cooperation with Latin America is actively developing now, last year was quite productive, despite the international situation. In particular, new prospects for cooperation with Brazil on the supply of nuclear fuel cycle products and services have opened up. Rosatom has signed a long-term contract with the Brazilian company Industrias Nucleares do Brasil for the supply of enriched uranium products, under which we will provide 100% of the needs of the Angra NPP in enriched uranium in the period from 2023 to 2027. The contract was the result of an open international tender that ended in August 2022.
In addition, in 2022 we delivered equipment to Brazil for the TRIGA research reactor. We also continue to supply isotope products to Brazil: Rosatom has been one of the largest suppliers of isotope products for nuclear medicine in this country for several years and makes a significant contribution to the fight against cancer in Brazil, which we are very proud of.
In addition, we continue to develop cooperation with other Latin American countries. The construction of Bolivia's first Nuclear Research and Technology Center, the highest–altitude nuclear facility in the world, is at an advanced stage. We also maintain a dialogue with our Argentine partners.
– You have recently visited Argentina. What projects were discussed? Earlier, Rosatom offered Argentina the construction of a large nuclear power plant, a low-power nuclear power plant, a floating nuclear power plant. Which of these projects remains on the agenda?– Our proposals for strategic cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy are still relevant.
In addition, over the past year we have been working productively with the operator of the Argentine nuclear power plant Nucleoeléctrica Argentina (NA-SA) and outlined a list of specific projects that we can develop together with partners. And just during our recent visit to Argentina, we held a videoconference with the participation of our specialists from Russia to continue discussing specific areas of cooperation. First of all, we are talking about cooperation in the field of efficient and safe management of nuclear waste. We hope that during the year our discussions will result in real projects, there are all conditions for this.
– In Bolivia, Rosatom is successfully developing a project to build a nuclear science and technology center. When will the construction of the reactor be completed? When will the center be fully commissioned?– This year we plan to put into commercial operation the objects of the first and second stages of construction: the preclinical cyclotron-radiopharmacological complex (PCRC) and the multipurpose irradiation center (MCE), which were put into trial operation on August 5, 2022.
In addition, the main radiopharmaceuticals with the required characteristics were produced, the necessary licenses were obtained for the delivery of these facilities.
In parallel, construction and installation work continues on the third and fourth stages of the center, which include the engineering and technical complex, laboratory buildings and the heart of the project - the reactor complex. The solemn ceremony of pouring the first concrete of the building where the first research reactor in Bolivia will be located took place in the summer of 2021. The event was attended by Bolivian President Luis Alberto Arce Catacora.
– Is Rosatom considering the possibility of building similar centers in other Latin American countries?– For Rosatom, this project is a business card in the region.
We expect that after it is put into commercial operation, it will become a reference for other countries of the continent. In particular, the States of Central America and the Caribbean are showing interest in the project. These countries are interested in the non-energy application of nuclear technologies, primarily in nuclear medicine, agriculture and science. Each country has its own priorities, so here we offer a flexible approach that allows you to adapt the project to the needs of each specific client. For example, if a country wants to focus on agriculture, then we can offer a configuration of such a center, "sharpened" primarily for agriculture; if we are talking about medicine, then we can also offer an appropriate configuration.
As the experience of Bolivia shows, the implementation of the CAIT project not only contributes to the development of such important areas of activity as healthcare, agriculture and science, but also provides an incentive for the training of new scientific personnel and allows for serious scientific research.
– What other projects is Rosatom considering in Central America?– As you already know, Rosatom works not only in the nuclear power industry, but also in the field of traditional and alternative energy.
For example, the state corporation builds and operates wind farms in Russia, and we are implementing plans to enter the international market. For example, we conducted a preliminary analysis of the Nicaragua market from the point of view of the applied business model, taking into account the price level of electricity produced by hydroelectric power plants and wind farms. Based on the results of the study, we can say that this is a fairly attractive market, and we look forward to developing this area of cooperation.
In addition, last year at the Atomexpo forum, we signed a roadmap with Nicaragua, which included the most promising projects in the field of the use of nuclear technologies for peaceful purposes, primarily agriculture, medicine and science.
– What projects is Rosatom considering in Brazil?– In Brazil, we are interested in the nuclear energy development program as a whole.
The country has adopted a medium-term program that provides for the construction of new NPP units, the total capacity of which will be up to 10 GW. At the same time, both large plants and nuclear power plants based on small modular reactors are on the agenda.
In turn, Rosatom is a world leader in the construction of nuclear power plants. In addition, we are the only country where a floating nuclear power plant is in commercial operation (the Akademik Lomonosov floating nuclear power plant in Pevek). I am confident that we will be able to offer Brazil reliable and safe technologies that will give impetus to the development of the national economy.
When implementing infrastructure projects, we are ready to build cooperation with local players, involving local companies, both private and public.
– What share of Rosatom's projects in the field of medical radioisotope supplies abroad are projects in Latin America? Which isotopes are most in demand?– Brazil is one of Rosatom's largest partners in the supply of isotope products.
We ship molybdenum and iodine isotopes there weekly, which are used for various medical procedures, for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, cancer. Rosatom's share accounts for almost half of all shipments of radioisotope products purchased by the Brazilian Institute for Energy and Nuclear Research (IPEN).
In addition, we have expanded cooperation with Brazil in this area through the supply of new types of isotope products. We see good prospects for the supply of isotopes not only for medicine, but also for industry. In particular, last year we won a tender for the supply of zinc isotope to Eletronuclear, which is used in the operation of nuclear fuel at nuclear power plants. We also supplied isotope products for nuclear medicine to Argentina during the shutdown of the local nuclear reactor. Nevertheless, the long logistics of supplies from Russia to Argentina remains a serious obstacle to expanding cooperation, and, unfortunately, the pandemic has only complicated the situation. Despite this, we are looking for ways to develop partnerships and maintain a dialogue with our existing and potential customers in the region.
Oleg Vyazmitinov was talking.