Side event of Russian Federation "Low-carbon development of Russia: challenges and opportunities" took place at UNFCCC COP22 Conference on climate change in Marrakech, Morocco on November 17.
Adviser to the President of the Russian Federation on climate changes issues Alexander Bedritsky, representatives of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation and top-managers of the leading Russian businesses including representatives from ROSATOM, RUSNANO and RUSAL discussed Russia’s policy in combating climate change and contribution of modern Russian technologies to the development of low-carbon energy sector.
Kirill Komarov, First Deputy CEO for Corporate Development and International Business of ROSATOM State Corporation spoke about the role of nuclear power in achieving objectives of Paris Agreements and its benefits that prevent emissions of CO2 in the atmosphere. "We promote in Russia and abroad NPPs based of VVER technology which is safe, mature and one of the most referenced globally. Our recent project is the 6th unit of Novovoronezh NPP that was put into operation in August this year in Russia. We are proud that today it is the first and the only successfully implemented project of NPP of so called Generation 3+ . So, thanks to VVER designed NPPs built in the world 15 Gt. of CO2 hadn’t been emitted globally. Such volume of СО2 could be emitted by 40 coal TPPs of 1 GWe (each) during 60 years. The current contribution of nuclear to low carbon electricity generation in Russia is 48%. It is our contribution to the low-carbon future of the planet".
He also noted that nuclear industry bears heavy responsibility: "We must have safe NPPs and effective system of management of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste. ROSATOM’s latest innovations including closed nuclear fuel cycle on “fast-neutrons” technologies, REMIX fuel and Gen. 3+ reactors with the first reactor of this type put in operation in Russia allow to cope with these tasks successfully”.
The event was attended by H.E. Dr. Hakima El Haite, Minister Delegate in Charge of Environment at the Ministry of Energy, Mining, Water and Environment of Morocco. She pointed out the importance of interaction between governmental and non-governmental actors to prevent the consequences of climate change. According to the Minister, the Russian Federation is an example of a country where state and business work jointly and successfully in this direction.
Earlier this day a press-conference with Kirill Komarov and Agneta Rising, Director General of the World Nuclear Association took place on the sidelines of COP22. The press-conference focused on the role of nuclear energy in achieving objectives of Paris Agreements and global reduction of CO2 emissions. In particular, Mrs. Rising noted: "Because the Paris Agreement calls on countries to have greater ambition we believe it is vital that we aim to decarbonise the electricity generation sector by 2050, with nuclear energy working in harmony with other low carbon forms of generation. Parties should follow Russia’s example today and give an equal emphasis to nuclear as a solution as they do to other mitigation options” - she added.
Mr. Komarov emphasized that atomic energy and renewables can't be set against each other. "We are sure that the future of the energy industry is in diversified balance of low-carbon technologies that provide price affordability, safety of deliveries and minimum impact on the environment". In proof of his words Mr. Komarov told about current ROSATOM projects in wind power generation. The total amount of investments made by ROSATOM here exceeds 1 billion Euro.
For information
UN Climate Change Conference (COP-22) took place from November 7-18, 2016 in Marrakech, Morocco. Around 20 thousand delegates participated in it. On December 12, 2015 at COP-21 conference in France the Paris Agreement were signed. Its purpose is to curb the increase in average temperature on the planet by 2100 by no more than 2 degrees Celsius in comparison with preindustrial era and to keep the growth of temperature within 1,5 degrees.