The production of electricity by Russian nuclear power plants decreased for the first time in 10 years. Among the reasons are the aging of equipment

In 2023, the production of electricity by Russian atomic power plants for the first time in a decade decreased. According to Rosstat, it amounted to 217 billion kWh-it is 6.4 billion kWh less than in 2022. Rosatom admitted that the decrease will continue to occur.

The main reason for what is happening-the aging of a part of the nuclear equipment used in the country, was explained in a conversation with the “resin” physicist Dmitry Gorchakov. The Soviet reactors of the RBMK are especially problematic - they are gradually deduced, but they do not have time to build new ones in a timely manner.

“Another reason [reduction in energy production] is that in 2023 there were a number of technical difficulties on some blocks-in particular, on the block No. 5 of the Leningrad NPP, which, due to damage to the turbine, stood for more than six months in repairs. There were also long repairs due to problems with equipment at the Novovoronezh NPP and at the Beloyarsk NPP. Because of this, these stations did not fulfill the annual production plan, ”said Gorchakov.

Despite the decrease in production, the expert noted that the state of the Russian nuclear industry is sustainable: it feels confident in foreign markets, where direct sanctions are not imposed on it, and inside the country, where the Rosatom is more and more strengthened as a state corporation. However, in the coming years, Rosatom will have new challenges, Gorchakov believes, so the growth of production really should not be expected.

“First of all, the corporation is faced with the task of mass construction within the country - in order not to reduce production and even increase it by 2045 to 25% [in the energy balance of Russia]: Putin set such a task (according to the results of 2020, the share of Russian nuclear power plants in the country's energy balance was 20.28% - approx. Ed ), ”said the expert. - If Rosatom is now almost 90% of its construction nuclear power plants abroad, then by 2030, according to my estimates, the ratio of construction projects within the country and beyond its borders will be almost equal. At the same time, the total construction can be reduced by about a quarter. ”

Previously, Rosatom announced that he had no money for the conservation of obsolete Soviet blocks. The state corporation requested financing from the federal budget, while the exact amount has not yet been announced. Experts explained that Rosatom has money for the conservation of old nuclear power plants: in 2022, the company's net profit amounted to 166 billion rubles. The state corporation also earns at the production of electricity at the nuclear power plant - and, according to experts, it would be logical so that it also pays for the costs of decommissioning from operation of the nuclear power plant.