“We discuss in detail different areas of cooperation with the country’s leaders,” Likhachev said. “They say straight away that they have two reactors in their network and two others already completed. But they are thinking seriously about a fifth and a sixth reactor. That’s one matter under discussion.”

    “Another subject under discussion with our partners from the UAE – is joint projects in third countries. They want to do it together with us, localise fuel at home for delivery to other countries and come up with projects that we carry out in the form of a FTA or a public company. We discuss all these matters.”

    He said the introduction of nuclear power in the country at the beginning of the 2000s gave an impulse to the UAE for overall technological development.

    “Back then at the dawn of the new millennium, they were already talking about the energy transition. It was generally an extra topic of conversation in discussions with senior political figures,” Likhachev said. “Having a site for nuclear technology allowed for development of the country’s abilities, linked to science, steel making, nuclear medicine and implementing technology in agriculture.”

    And now, as the energy transition is proceeding, nuclear power is a foundation for a sustainable energy balance in the Emirates.