Arab Finance: Panel discussion "Low-carbon development of Russia: challenges and opportunities" took place at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP-22) in Morocco on November 17. Adviser to the President of the Russian Federation on climate changes issues Alexander Bedritsky, representatives of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation and top-managers from ROSATOM State Corporation and top management of the leading Russian businesses including representatives from "RUSNANO" and "RUSAL” discussed Russia’s policy in combating climate change and contribution of modern Russian technologies to the development of low-carbon energy sector.

Kirill Komarov, First Deputy CEO for Corporate Development and International Business of ROSATOM State Corporation spoke about the role of nuclear power in achieving objectives of Paris Agreements and its benefits that prevent emissions of CO2 in the atmosphere.

"In Russia and abroad we promote NPP’s on VVER technology that are safe, developed and have the greatest number of references around the world. Our recent project is the 6th unit of Novovoronezh NPP that was put into operation in August this year in Russia. We are proud that today it is the first and successfully implemented project of the 3^rd Generation NPP. Thanks to the NPP with the VVER reactors we succeeded in preventing approximately 15 gigatons of CO2 emissions worldwide. 40 coal power plants with capacity 1 GW each could produce such amount of CO2 in 60 years. Now the share of nuclear power in low-carbon generation in Russia is 48%. It is our contribution to the low-carbon future of our planet".

He also noted that nuclear industry bears heavy responsibility: "We must have safe NPPs and effective system of management of spent nuclear fuel and radiation waste. ROSATOM’s latest innovations including closed nuclear fuel cycle on “fast-neutrons” technologies, REMIX fuel and Gen. 3+ reactors with the first reactor of this type successfully put in operation in Russia will allow to cope with these tasks”.

H.E. Dr. Hakima El Haite, Minister Delegate in Charge of Environment at the Ministry of Energy, Mining, Water and Environment of Morocco, pointed out the importance of interaction between governmental and non-governmental actors to prevent the consequences of climate change. According to the Minister, the Russian Federation is an example of a country where state and business work jointly and successfully in this direction.

Earlier this day a press-conference with Mr Kirill Komarov and Agneta Rising, Director General of the World Nuclear Association took place on the sidelines of COP-22. The press-conference focused on the role of nuclear energy in achieving objectives of Paris Agreements and global reduction of CO2 emissions.

In particular, Ms Rising noted: "Because the Paris Agreement calls on countries to have greater ambition we believe it is vital that we aim to decarbonise the electricity generation sector by 2050, with nuclear energy working in harmony with other low carbon forms of generation. Parties should follow Russia’s example today and give an equal emphasis to nuclear as a solution as they do to other mitigation options” - she added.

Mr Komarov emphasized that atomic energy and renewables can't be set against each other. "We are sure that the future of the energy industry is in diversified balance of low-carbon technologies that provide price affordability, safety of deliveries and minimum impact on the environment". In proof of his words Mr Komarov told about ROSATOM projects in wind power generation. The total amount of investments made by ROSATOM into these projects exceeds 1 billion Euro.