Editor TLN
Sri Lanka is studying the installation offshore and offshore of small reactors, considering nuclear energy as a sustainable alternative in environmental and economic terms. The country’s electricity comes mainly from hydroelectric plants. The Government is studying the contract between Rosatom and Bangladesh.
Colombo () – The Sri Lankan government is working with Russia on nuclear power generation, evaluating the possibility of installing small modular reactors and floating nuclear power plants both on land and at sea. To this end, the Council of Ministers approved a request for adhesion to two international Conventions on nuclear energy and nuclear damage. The Government intends to diversify energy supply and considers nuclear power as a useful low-emission option to reach carbon neutrality (zero emissions) by 2050. Today the country relies mainly on hydropower for electricity production, followed by coal and oil power plants.
Official sources from the National Atomic Energy Board explained that “it was Russia who presented the proposal to build a nuclear power plant in Sri Lanka, presenting an agreement to that effect. And since it is a government program, the cabinet authorized the consideration of the nuclear energy as an alternative source to meet the future energy needs of the country”.
“According to the Russian proposal,” the sources continued, “a team of experts will manage the plant in a first phase and will train the operators in Sri Lanka within three years. Colombo hopes to obtain three nuclear power plants in this way offshore mounted on ships and equipped with small modular reactors with a capacity of up to 100 MW per unit”.
Some expert engineers consulted by noted that “Russia is currently the country in the world with the largest number of nuclear reactor construction projects, with three units in Russia and 34 abroad in various stages of development. The construction of new plants is especially intense in Asia: the year The Rooppur (Bangladesh) two-reactor, 2.4 GW power plant will come online next year. India has also installed two reactors with the help of Rosatom, the Russian state nuclear agency.
“In 2022, Sri Lankan officials submitted a self-assessment report to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), seeking approval to establish an independent nuclear regulatory body, the development of training programs for nuclear power personnel, and supporting documents. related to infrastructure issues,” revealed sources familiar with the file.
“Nuclear power generation,” the experts continued, “is more environmentally friendly than energy sources such as oil, coal, and gas, and, except for the initial investment to build, is less expensive and it is less subject to inflation and price fluctuations, which could have a positive impact on the country’s current economic crisis.” Colombo is studying Russia’s agreement with Bangladesh to determine investment and repayment terms.”
