At the ongoing EXPO 2020 in Dubai, UAE, the Russian atomic energy corporation Rosatom is hosting a week-long programme titled “Breakthrough Technologies for a Sustainable Future” from January 17-24, 2022. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, EXPO 2020 is currently being held between October 1, 2021, till March 31, 2022.
According to a Rosatom release, the “Breakthrough Technologies for a Sustainable Future” programme will highlight a wide range of technologies and their applications – including the latest nuclear innovations – aimed at improving the quality of life and helping to tackle global social, economic and environmental challenges.
The programme kicked off on January 17 with a discussion on the “Human-Centricity Index” and on promoting nuclear engineering education through international partnerships. Senior experts from Rosatom, DP World, the International Organisation of Employers, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Singularity University (USA), Khalifa University (UAE), Higher School of Economics (Russia), International Youth Nuclear Congress (IYNC), as well leading higher educational institutions of Russia, Italy and the UK participated in a series of events.
With sustainable shipping as another key theme of the programme, the Northern Transit Corridor session on January 19 saw international experts, including representatives from Rosatom, DP World and the World Ocean Council, discuss the opportunities for commercial shipping along the Northern Sea Route and how to mitigate any impact on the Arctic environment.
The session on “Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) Construction in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) Region: Prospects of Cooperation” on January 19 focused on current large-scale NPP projects in the MENA and regional cooperation in the nuclear sector to help implement nuclear power programmes in countries newly adopting nuclear technology.
January 20, 2022, was designated as “Small Modular Reactors (SMR) Day”, while another event examined the advantages of this technology and how it could help bring low-carbon energy to the world’s most remote regions. Along with conventional NPPs, Rosatom is at the forefront of developing SMR technology.
The “Net Zero: Achievement Points, Experience and Approaches” session on January 21 will be dedicated to decarbonisation – one of the biggest issues facing the world – and will review the outcomes of the UN Conference of Parties (COP26) meeting on climate change held recently in Glasgow, UK.
The Rosatom statement said that during the event dedicated to decarbonisation, international experts will discuss climate regulation, the steps required to adopt and achieve net zero goals on carbon emission and green financing of low-carbon and sustainable energy, including in developing countries.
Participants at the Rosatom event will also have the unique opportunity to take part in virtual tours of cutting-edge NPPs, including the Beloyarsk NPP, the only site with the world’s most powerful commercial fast-breeder reactor, the statement added. The virtual tours would include Russian nuclear plants using the Generation III+ VVER-1200 technology at the Novovoronezh and Leningrad NPPs, the world’s only operational floating NPP, and Rosatom fuel arm TVEL’s Machinery Manufacturing Plant responsible for nuclear fuel production.
“Besides highlighting the applications of nuclear technology, ‘Breakthrough Technologies for a Sustainable Future’ week will showcase how other types of technology – including wind energy, composite materials and quantum computing – can help make sustainability a reality”, Rosatom said.
“Rosatom’s philosophy is to make the transition to low-carbon energy and a sustainable economy more cost-effective for everyone. We’re looking forward to sharing how nuclear technologies and other innovations make an invaluable contribution to creating a sustainable future for the younger generations during our week of events”, Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev said in a statement.
The broadcast of the events will be available on the official ‘Rosatom Global’ YouTube channel.
