The governments of Zambia and the Russian Federation on 16 February signed an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the construction of a nuclear research centre in Zambia.
The Centre for Nuclear Sciences and will include a multifunctional 10MWt water moderated water cooled research reactor with supporting laboratories and functional facilities providing for a wide range of scientific research, including radiobiology. It will also enable the production of isotopes in Zambia for use in medicine, pest control and food and agriculture. The Centre will serve as a training base for skilled nuclear personnel to support Zambia’s nuclear and research programme.
Russia’s growing export orders
Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom was involved in the preparation or construction of 19 nuclear power reactors in eight countries in 2016, nuclear utility Rosenergoatom said on16 February. These include: two units at the Belarus NPP (1 and 2); units 3 and 4 at China’s Tianwan NPP; units 1-4 at the Kudankulam NPP in India; two units at the Ruppur NPP in Bangladesh (1 and 2); units 5 and 6 at Hungary’s Paks NPP; units 1-4 at the Akkuyu NPP in Turkey; Hanhikivi-1 in Finland; and units 2 and 3 at Bushehr NPP in Iran.
Rosatom is also taking part in tenders for the construction of some 23 reactors abroad. Its total portfolio of foreign orders is over $133bn, an increase from $110.4bn at the end of 2015. Rosatom said it expects a portfolio of foreign orders in 2030 in excess of $300bn.
