Every country in the world has a different tradition to welcome the new year, from the 12 grapes in Spain to the light shows (now with drones) in China. For these end-of-year festivities, Vladimir Putin gave a televised speech where he reviewed the entire annual agenda, focused on war conflicts. However, he forgot to mention its silent expansion in a currently central energy sector: nuclear.
Bet on nuclear ones. Russia has decided to build more than 10 nuclear plants in different countries around the world, such as Bangladesh, China, Egypt, India, Iran and Türkiye. The objective of this ambitious plan is to consolidate itself as the largest power in the world in nuclear power plants. Although this expansion not only responds to an attempt to diversify its geopolitical influence, but also to have more escape routes from the sanctions imposed by the West.
The information comes from the Kremlin’s special representative for international sustainability cooperation affairs, Boris Titov, who explained to the Financial Times that Russia wants to increase its nuclear hegemony and respond to the strong energy demand for Artificial Intelligence.
Market diversification. The nuclear sector has become an ace up the sleeve for Russia, not only for the construction of power plants, but also for the supply of fuel and complementary services. Under the supervision of the Russian state energy company, Rosatom, the Kremlin has several projects underway, such as the Paks 2 plant in Hungary, nuclear units in Bangladesh and Turkey, and the installation of a plant with modular reactors in Uzbekistan.
These initiatives not only represent technological advances, but also geopolitical tools. By maintaining a strong presence in the global nuclear market, Russia has found ways to circumvent economic restrictions and maintain its relevance in the global economy.
Avoid sanctions. Despite the war, Russia continued earning billions of dollars annually from gas transit, while Ukraine received payments for the service. However, on the first day of this year 2025, the agreement had to be renewed and Ukraine has decided revoke it, which has put an end to one of the paradoxes of war. However, Russia has managed, with this nuclear expansion, to find a new path to reconfigure the panorama so that dependence on the West never ends.
Dependence on uranium. Despite the sanctions, Russia found in uranium a shortcut to continue trading globally and maintain a dominant position in the market, because it controls 27% of the world’s conversion capacity and 39% of the global enrichment market. This situation highlights the energy dependence on the West, especially for the United States, which banning its import would cost the country around 1 billion dollars. This is an example of how Western nations find themselves caught between energy dependence and the need for sustainability.
Divisions in the West. Meanwhile, the resistance of countries such as Hungary and Slovakia, which have defended Russian gas, has revealed the fractures within the European Union.. The presidents of both countries, Viktor Orbán and Robert Fico, have argued that cutting nuclear cooperation would put their countries’ electricity production at risk. These differences make a common European front to counter Russian influence difficult.
The energy future. According to data from the International Atomic Energy Agency, nuclear generation capacity will increase this new year by 155%, reaching 950 gigawatts in 2050. In this context, Russia will continue to look for alternatives and ways to position itself as a leader in the silent fight for resources. strategic plans that will define the world’s energy future.
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