Maria Girich, Researcher of the International Best Practices Analysis Department at the Gaidar Institute, took part in the program RBC “Denj. Glavnoye”, where she commented on the competitiveness of the Russian nuclear industry in the context of rapid development of the economies of Asian countries, in particular China.
During the broadcast, the expert stated that despite global challenges, Russia maintains a strong position in the nuclear sector due to its unique expertise in uranium enrichment and nuclear power plant construction.
"Russia ranks roughly sixth in the world in terms of production, but we have the primary uranium enrichment capacity, that is, the services," explained Maria Girich.
She cited research data indicating that Russia will remain a key player in the global nuclear fuel market over the next 15 years.
"A couple of years ago, a study was conducted that by 2040, Russia will supply almost half of the world's capacity for reprocessing highly enriched uranium, which will be used in all countries," the expert noted.
According to Maria Girich, Rosatom's successful international operations serve as proof of the demand for Russian technologies. "Rosatom operates in more than 30 countries and has built nearly 70% of the world's nuclear power plants. It follows that our services will likely be in demand at least in the countries where we have already built these plants," she emphasized.
Answering the question of whether Russia will have power to maintain its market share amid competition with China and the US, Maria Girich highlighted promising trends for expansion. "Overall, our primary focus will be entering the markets of friendly ASEAN countries (Myanmar or Vietnam), Asia, and African countries (Niger)," she stated.
The expert cited recent agreements with Rosatom subsidiary Uranium One as an example of successful work on the African continent.
In conclusion, Maria Girich expressed confidence that Russian nuclear industry has the strength to maintain its leadership. "This is the segment where we can compete and certainly outpace all countries, both China and the US. There will always be demand for Russian products, especially fuel and enrichment services," she concluded.