The overall share of nuclear energy in Europe will not drop

The share of nuclear energy in the energy basket of the European Union will rise in the future, believes European Union Commissioner for Energy Maros Sefcovic. In his words, out of 16 European Union member states that have nuclear power plants 14 ones are willing to build up the nuclear energy industry. The countries that have their own nuclear energy industry generate 25% of the European Union’s energy. The ratio is expected to last and even increase in the future, Maros Sefcovic is convinced. “Every country is free to choose its composition of energy sources – this freedom to make the choice exists in the European Union. Every state can make decisions on the future nuclear energy industry in its territory on its own. The commitment to securing European safety is common for all,” noted the European Union Commissioner for Energy.

According to Dmitry Kumanovsky, head of the analysis division of Investment Company Lenmontazhstroy (LMS), Maros Sefcovic’s opinion regarding the possible increase in the nuclear energy share in the global electricity generation has indeed the right to exist since ecological problems force many countries to stop burning fossil fuels to generate electricity. Those are primarily industrially developed nations like European countries and the People’s Republic of China. They gradually phase out electricity generation based on coal and furnace oil in favor of more environmentally friendly energy generation based on natural gas and nuclear power plants.

Even considering the rigid stance of individual European countries in favor of fully rejecting nuclear energy after the Fukushima events, the overall share of nuclear energy in Europe will not drop. After Germany shuts down nuclear power plants, electricity will be generated by nuclear power plants in neighboring countries, including European Union members (for instance, France, Czechia) and countries outside the European Union (Belarus and Russia). Thanks to that Russia with Rosatom acting on its behalf will enjoy a unique opportunity to bring its nuclear energy technologies to new markets. Along with taking care of electricity generation in an individual country it will be possible to export cheap nuclear energy to the united European energy market. It will improve economic parameters of the installations under construction.