Russia and China sign long-term nuclear deal

ER Editor: Welcome to the future. See this interesting piece we published yesterday by Pepe Escobar —

In Moscow, Xi and Putin bury Pax Americana – “Now, there are changes that haven’t happened in 100 years”

In terms of long-range planning, this comment by Escobar caught our eye:

Diplomatic sources confirm that Chinese intelligence, via its own investigations, is now fully assured of Putin’s vast popularity across Russia, and even within the country’s political elites. That means conspiracies of the regime-change variety are out of the question. This was fundamental for Xi and the Zhongnanhai’s (China’s central HQ for party and state officials) decision to “bet” on Putin as a trusted partner in the coming years, considering he may run and win the next presidential elections. China is always about continuity.

We can consider the nuclear deal signed below to be indicative of where we’re all going. And in this sector, Russia is the leader.

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What are fast-neutron reactors? From world-nuclear.org:

Fast Neutron Reactors

(Updated August 2021)

  • Fast neutron reactors (FNRs) are a technological step beyond conventional power reactors, but are poised to become mainstream.
  • They offer the prospect of vastly more efficient use of uranium resources and the ability to burn actinides which are otherwise the long-lived component of high-level nuclear waste.
  • Over 400 reactor-years of experience has been gained in operating them.
  • Generation IV reactor designs are largely FNRs, and international collaboration on FNR designs is proceeding with high priority.

About 20 fast neutron reactors (FNR) have already been operating, some since the 1950s, and some supplying electricity commercially. …

Russia is at the forefront of fast reactor development. It operates the only commercial-scale fast reactors and is building a 300 MWe demonstration lead-cooled fast reactor. It also put lead-cooled fast reactors into its seven Alfa-class submarines, which was not a conspicuous success but yielded 70 reactor-years of experience.* …

Readers may also be interested in this piece from last September, titled Next generation fast neutron reactors

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Russia and China sign long-term nuclear deal

The agreement covers a range of strategic areas including the development of new atomic reactors

RT

Russia and China are deepening their partnership in nuclear energy and will draw up a roadmap for cooperation in developing so-called fast-neutron reactors for decades to come, Russia’s state-run nuclear energy giant Rosatom announced on Wednesday.

Russia and China sign long-term nuclear deal

According to the company, the comprehensive program lays the ground not only for bilateral cooperation, but will essentially influence the shape of the global nuclear energy sector.

The document signed between Rosatom and the China National Nuclear Corporation covers “key areas” and is focused on expanding current cooperation as well as launching new projects “related to fast-neutron reactors, the production of uranium-plutonium fuel and the management of spent nuclear fuel.”

The announcement of a long-term nuclear deal came among a raft of agreements presented during a three-day visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Moscow.

China already operates five Russian nuclear reactors and currently has four more under construction, which makes Russia the largest nuclear supplier to the country.

Last year, Rosatom launched the construction of the Xudabu-4 reactor and the Tianwan-8 reactor in the Jiangsu province in eastern China. The reactors will be powered by third-generation pressurized water reactor technology supplied by Rosatom, with operations set to begin between 2026 and 2028, according to the agreement. The cost of construction at each site is estimated to be $1.7 billion.

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Source

Featured image: Rosatom

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