The World Atomic Week (WAW) international forum, dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Russian nuclear industry, which took place from 25 to 28 September at the All-Russia Exhibition Centre (VDNKh – Vistravka Dostizhenii Narodnovo Khozyaistva) in Moscow, attracted more than 20,000 visitors from 118 countries. The forum discussions centred on the development of nuclear technologies over the next 100 years.
Over four days, the forum brought together representatives of countries developing their nuclear programmes, government agencies, large companies, public organisations, scientists, businessmen and high-level professionals.
The business programme featured different thematic tracks, including affordable clean energy; industrial innovation – improving production; ecology – making the planet cleaner; advanced medicine – protecting people’s health; digital breakthrough; mobility – logistics without borders; comfortable urban environment; and science & education – the engine of progress.
Round tables discussions covered a range of topics including artificial intelligence in industrial solutions: anticipation vs reality; industrial robotisation: a smart machine to help people, or will cyborgs replace people; raw materials supply for nuclear energy; nuclear cities – developing territories together; controlled thermonuclear fusion.
Other panel sessions and discussions covered: electromobility – from infrastructure to the creation of new solutions; complex solutions – end-to-end digitalisation of production processes at complex industrial facilities; the triad of growth – technology, business, government; beautiful is not far away – the quantum world of tomorrow; the Northern Sea Route in 500 years; and back-end advanced technologies – investments in future generations.
World Atomic Week also featured an extensive youth programme, which included the first-ever grand finale of the Global HackAtom international student championship. This year, its national rounds were held in 10 countries, uniting over 650 participants (more than 160 teams). The event brought together more than 50 winners of the national rounds from Russia and nine partner countries ending with the presentation of projects focused on space applications of advanced nuclear technologies.
The winning team was TUPI Tech from Brazil, with a project dedicated to developing a modular nuclear reactor for space exploration. Second place went to the Tahu Sumedang team (Indonesia) for their concept of using nuclear technologies to regulate human circadian rhythms during interplanetary travel. Third place was awarded to the IsotopeX team (Hungary) for their project of a nuclear power source for a medical device designed to monitor an astronaut’s vital signs.
The opening ceremony was attended President Vladimir Putin; the Chairman of Rosatom’s Supervisory Board Sergei Kiriyenko; the Deputy Chairman of the Russian Government, Alexander Novak; Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev; International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi; and World Nuclear Association Director General Dr Sama Bilbao y León; among others.
Addressing the meeting President Putin noted the growing interest in nuclear energy as a green energy source and to power data centres, citing IAEA forecasts that total nuclear capacity could increase by more than 2.5 times by the end of the century. He added: “Moreover, the growth in demand for peaceful nuclear energy will be largely driven by countries in the Global South and East, which are strengthening their technological and industrial capabilities.”
He said, “Russian designs are the most sought-after in the world due to their safety and resistance to external influences”. Referring to the development of small land-based and floating nuclear plants, he said: “Very soon we will produce them in series”. He added: “The key to Russia’s leadership is our principled approach. First, we strictly adhere to our contractual obligations, and I want to emphasise that we strictly adhere to them regardless of any political circumstances. Secondly, we reject so-called technological colonialism, that is, we do not make our partners dependent on Russian technical solutions, but, on the contrary, we help them to create their own sovereign national nuclear industry, including training, the formation of competence centres.”
He said Russia considers nuclear technologies to be the basis for broad international cooperation and the rapprochement of states. “Russia is interested in creating stable long-term conditions for nuclear projects.” Noting that NPP construction requires significant funds, he said: “I believe that it is necessary to establish modern financing models for the construction of nuclear power plants and to involve international financial institutions and development banks in such projects.”
Citing OECD estimates that uranium resources could be depleted by 2090 or earlier, he pointed to Russia’s project to close the fuel cycle which will be launched in 2030 [he was referring to the Brest lead-cooled reactor and supporting facilities nearing completion in Seversk]. “It means that almost all of the used fuel, 95%, will be reused in the reactors. Such a mechanism will make it possible to almost completely solve the problem of radioactive waste accumulation in the future, and which is equally important, to essentially eliminate the issue of uranium supply.”
He also referred to the International Research Centre [based on the MBIR multipurpose research reactor under construction in Dimitrovgrad]. “We invite scientists from different countries to cooperate in the development of technologies that open a new, without any exaggeration, new era in nuclear energy.”
In his speech, Sergei Kiriyenko noted: “Nuclear energy – is an industry distinguished by long cycles in time. This requires a lot of mutual trust. And we, Russia and Rosatom, have always adhered to this rule: build long-term trusting relationships with our partners, readily transfer technology and knowledge, create joint ventures and work together in the markets of third countries. We are confident that this is how, and not through restrictions, embargoes or sanctions, modern technologies must develop that bring prosperity, security and well-being to people around the world.”
Alexey Likhachev, declaring World Atomic Week open, said: “Our task is to step together into tomorrow, where there is no alternative to using nuclear energy as the basis of green energy. And we sincerely thank our partners for their trust. And we will do everything to justify this trust.” He noted that Rosatom had been set the task of increasing the nuclear share of power production in Russia from 20%to 25% within 20 years. This means constructing 38 large, medium and small nuclear units, doubling the fleet of operating reactors. “Much has already been done but more remains to be done. First of all, transition to serial construction of nuclear power plants.”
As part of the opening ceremony, shipment of the hulls of two VVER-1200 reactors was launched via teleconference for unit 1 of Egypt’s El Dabaa NPP and unit 4 of Turkey’s Akkuyu NPP. The head Rosatom’s Mechanical Engineering Division, Igor Kotov, and the Vice-President of the Egypt’s Nuclear Power Plants Authority, Mohammad Ramadan, were present at the ceremonial shipment of equipment via video link from St Petersburg. “Shipment of two nuclear reactors at once is an important event for Rosatom and our partners,” said Kotov. The two reactor pressure vessels were dispatched to the construction sites in cases decorated with ornaments combining Russian folk motifs and visualisation of modern scientists’ ideas about the quantum mechanical model of the atom.
A raft of agreements were signed on the sidelines of World Atomic Week.
- A memorandum of understanding MOU was signed twinning the satellite city of Russia’s Beloyarsk NPP, Zarechny, with the Hungarian city of Dunaföldvar.
- Russian nuclear utility Rosenergoatom signed an agreement strengthening scientific and technical cooperation with Belarus State Production Association, Belenergo, including co-operation on the Belarusian NPP.
- Rosatom Technical Academy and Mayanmar’s Yangon University of Technology signed a MOU enhancing bilateral cooperation in nuclear science, technology, research and training.
- Rosatom Service and China’s CNNP Operation and Maintenance Company signed an agreement to consolidate cooperation on the maintenance of NPPs including technical support services for China’s Tianwan and Xudabao NPPs.
- Rosatom Service and Jiangsu Nuclear Industry Corporation (part of China National Nuclear Corporation) expanded cooperation in the area of technical services and training, including maintenance and repair of NPP equipment for VVER-type reactors.
- The Rosatom Technical Academy, the IAEA and the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research signed an agreement to create an internet reactor laboratory that will allow students and researchers from countries that do not have their own reactors to participate remotely in nuclear physics experiments.
- Rosenergoatom signed documents on interaction and cooperation with the companies JSC Yanolovo and Beloe Zoloto on the supply of electricity from the low-power nuclear power plant to be built in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia).
- Rosatom and the Beijing Research Institute of Uranium Geology signed an agreement for exchange of information on field testing at the Beishan Underground Research Laboratory, relating to the final disposal of high-level radioactive waste in underground repositories.
- Rosatom and the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation signed an action plan for developing a nuclear power plant project in Ethiopia.
- A contract was signed between Rosatom and the Belarusian NPP Unitary Enterprise for a balanced nuclear fuel cycle at the Belarus plant with Russian companies taking and reprocessing used fuel and Belarusian companies accepting the reprocessed fuel.
- Russia’s Rosatom and Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation signed a MOU for cooperation in the building of small modular reactors in Iran.
At the accompanying exhibition, visitors were able to see the achievements of Russia’s nuclear industry and its partners. The exhibition area explored how atomic technology is making a difference in the lives of millions of people around the world. It was organised in three halls – Past, Present and Future and included models of the VVER-1200 reactor, low-power nuclear power plant and floating power unit, virtual reality tours of NPPs, interactive projects such as building a NPP and much more.
Rosatom also organised street exhibitions and multimedia art objects in five Russian cities – Yekaterinburg, Murmansk, Rostov-on-Don, St Petersburg and Chelyabinsk.
