Rosatom: From the atomic bomb to the largest nuclear
institution in the world. 80 years of achievements
The Russian nuclear industry celebrates its 80th anniversary this year
and Rosatom's journey represents the story of an amazing transformation from
a secret
- weapons program to
- the world's largest nuclear company
- shaping the global energy landscape.
Origin:
On August 20, 1945, the Soviet Union established a "Special Committee for the Use of Atomic Energy" headed by Lavrentiy Beria, in response to American threats.
The first Soviet atomic bomb, the RDS-1, was built and successfully tested in 1949. This achievement broke the American monopoly and laid the foundations for strategic deterrence, ensuring the balance of power.
Transition towards peaceful atomic energy:
Nuclear activity in the Soviet era was not limited to militarization.
On June 27, 1954
the world's first nuclear power plant was put into operation to generate electricity in Obninsk with a capacity of 5 megawatts, at a historic moment that changed the world and proved that the atom can light up cities, not just destroy them.
During the Soviet era
the Soviet nuclear complex grew tremendously, with the construction of a fleet of nuclear submarines and nuclear icebreakers such as Lenin and Arctic
which opened the Northern Corridor and facilitated navigation in the Arctic. In addition to building giant power plants using reactors using VVER reactors.
Modern Rosatom era:
Rosatom owns about 40% of the global uranium enrichment market. It is the only company in the world that provides full fuel cycle services.
The following
are the most prominent international projects of Rosatom:
- Türkiye: Akkuyu Project, Türkiye's first nuclear power plant (4 VVER-1200 reactors).
- Egypt: Dabaa project, the first nuclear plant in Egypt (4 VVER-1200 reactors).
- Bangladesh: Robor project (two VVER-1200 reactors).
- Hungary: Expansion of the Baksh nuclear plant (two new VVER-1200 reactors).
- China: Construction of advanced power units, Tianwan project.
Akademik Lomonosov Station:
In 2018, Rosatom launched the Akademik Lomonosov Station, the world's first floating nuclear power plant, providing power to remote and coastal areas.
Non-nuclear activities:
Rosatom has expanded into a huge technology group
entering into the fields of:
Advanced Materials: Production of composite and metal materials for aviation, aerospace and industry.
Nuclear medicine: production of radioisotopes for diagnosis and treatment.
Safety and security systems.
Russia unveils the world's first floating nuclear plant
Russia unveiled the world's first floating nuclear power plant on Saturday at a ceremony in the port of the remote northern city of Murmansk, where it will be refueled before heading to Siberia.
The Akademik
Lomonosov station, built in St. Petersburg, arrived in Murmansk last Thursday, where it docked in the city's port and was presented to the media on Saturday.
The ship, which is 144 meters long
and weighs 21,000 tons and was built by the Russian state nuclear energy company Rosatom, contains two nuclear reactors, each with a capacity of 35 megawatts, similar to those usually used to supply energy to icebreakers.
The station will be used mainly to supply energy to oil platforms, while Russia is expanding north towards the North Pole to explore for oil and gas, making the need for electricity essential in these remote areas.
For his part
the head of Rosatom, Alexei Ryhachev, told reporters that a number of countries have expressed interest in floating nuclear plant technology.
He added
that coastal countries are also interested in these stations
as they may be a base for building powerful water desalination plants.