scholarly journals Determinants of Sovereign Investment Protectionism: the Case of Bulgaria’s Nuclear Energy Sector

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 35-66
Author(s):  
Elena A. Iankova ◽  
Atanas G. Tzenev

Foreign direct investment (FDI) by entities controlled by foreign governments (especially state-owned enterprises) is a new global phenomenon that is most often linked to the rise of emerging markets such as China and Russia. Host governments have struggled to properly react to this type of investment activity especially in key strategic sectors and critical infrastructure that ultimately raise questions of national security. Academic research on sovereign investment as a factor contributing to the new global protectionist trend is very limited, and predominantly focused on sovereign investors from China. This study explores the specifics of Russian sovereign investment in the former Soviet Bloc countries, now members of the European Union, especially in strategic sectors such as energy. We use the case of Bulgaria’s nuclear energy sector and the involvement of Russia’s state-owned company Rosatom in the halted Belene nuclear power plant project to analyze the dynamics of policy and politics, political-economic ideologies and historical legacies in the formation of national stances towards Russia as a sovereign investor. Our research contributes to the emerging literature on FDI protectionism and sovereign investment by emphasizing the significance of political-ideological divides and the heritage of the past as determinants of sovereign investment protectionism.

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 305
Author(s):  
Dóra Lovas

<p>The aim of the article is to present the ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in the case of the Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant. This investment can also be related to the Paks II nuclear power plant investment, therefore the two investments are compared too. Both projects were examined by the European Commission, which take an important part when the national aid was awarded to Hinkley Point C and Paks II projects, and the decision of the CJEU also had influence on it. The author considers the European Commission’s aid conception positive, because the less developed countries are not forced to use only the renewables, but the environmental and security aspects of nuclear energy are also allowed (e.g. Hinkley Point C and Paks II nuclear power plants). The subsidy was allowed in both cases, but the reasons are different. In these cases, the limits of the EU energy politics can be seen, i.e. the right to select the package and the priority of the energy security and sustainable development. To mention an example for the difference, in Great Britain the energy sector was divided among the participants on the market but in Hungary the nuclear energy remained under state control. In the first option the state wanted to prove that it grants offset for the help to the general market services and in the second option the market investor principle was highlighted in order to show no other market participant act in other way. These points were not accepted, the state aid was provided both cases with permissible reasons because the projects condescend the goals of environmental policy and energy security. The decisions show that as a result of the efforts to protect the environment the dependency on energy increased and it cannot be solved only be encouraging the usage of the renewables. The permissive attitude of the European Commission can be found here and it is influenced by the increased state regulative roles. According to the author, it also appears in the environmentally friendly decisions which refers to the Paris Agreement’s fulfilment and the involvement of environmental requirements into politics. Moreover, the European Union tries to maintain its leader role in economics, which can be reached by the decrease of energy dependency and the exclusive usage of renewable energies is not the appropriate solution. The CJEU judgement is relevant in several respects. The article focuses primarily on the issue of environmental protection, state aid and the relation between the Euratom Treaty and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.</p>


Author(s):  
Marc Deffrennes ◽  
Michel Hugon ◽  
Panagiotis Manolatos ◽  
Georges Van Goethem ◽  
Simon Webster

The activities of the European Commission (EC) in the field of nuclear energy are governed by the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM). The research activities of the European Union (EU) are designed as multi-annual Framework Programmes (FP). The EURATOM 6th Framework Programme (EURATOM FP-6), covering the period 2002–2006, is funded with a budget of 1, 230 million Euros and managed by the European Commission. Beyond the general strategic goal of the EURATOM Framework Programmes to help exploit the potential of nuclear energy, in a safe and sustainable manner, FP-6 is designed to contribute also to the development of the “European Research Area” (ERA), a concept described in the Commission’s Communication COM(2000)6, of January 2000. Moreover EURATOM FP-6 contributes to the creation of the conditions for sharing the same nuclear safety culture throughout the EU-25 and the Candidate Countries, fostering the acceptance of nuclear power as an element of the energy mix. This paper gives an overview of the research activities undertaken through EURATOM FP-6 in the area of Reactor Systems, covering the safety of present reactors, the development of future safe reactors, and the needs in terms of research infrastructures and education & training. The actions under FP-6 are presented in their continuity of a ctions under FP-5. The perspectives under FP-7 are also provided. Other parts of the EURATOM FP, covering Waste Handling and Radiation Protection, as well as Fusion Energy, are not detailed in this paper.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 290
Author(s):  
Shaleh Raed Shatat ◽  
Ade Riusma Ariyana ◽  
Devina Arifani

The states Nuclear Program is a program to build and utilize nuclear science and technology both in the non-energy sector and in the energy sector for peaceful purposes. Utilization of non-energy in Indonesia has developed quite advanced. The use of nuclear power in every countries covers various fields such as health, research and industry. Indonesia's readiness in implementing nuclear energy is carried out by ratifying international conventions, issuing laws, and issuing regulations from the Nuclear Energy Supervisory Agency, readiness in the field of infrastructure used to strengthen technology, and in Indonesia is committed to reducing 26% of greenhouse gas emissions in the year 2020. A nuclear power plant or nuclear power plant is a thermal power plant that uses one or more nuclear reactors as a heat source. The working principle of a nuclear power plant is almost the same as a steam power plant, using high pressure steam to turn a turbine. The rotation of the turbine is converted into electrical energy. The difference is the heat source used to generate heat. A nuclear power plant uses uranium as its heat source. The fission reaction (fission) of the uranium nucleus produces enormous heat energy. The power of a nuclear power plant ranges from 40 MWe to 2000 MWe, and a nuclear power plant built in 2005 has a power distribution from 600 MWe to 1200 MWe. As of 2015 there are 437 nuclear power plants operating in the world, which in total generate about 1/6 of the world's electrical energy. To date, around 66 nuclear power plants are being built in various countries, including China with 28 units, Russia with 11 units, India with 7 units, the United Arab Emirates with 4 units, South Korea with 4 units, Pakistan and Taiwan with 2 units each. Nuclear power plants are categorized based on the type of reactor used. However, in some plants that have several separate reactor units, it is possible to use reactor types that are fueled such as Uranium and Plutonium.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (8) ◽  
pp. 164-174
Author(s):  
Zh. V. IVANOVSKAYA ◽  

The prospects of the Russian nuclear power industry depend on many factors, including economic, technological, political, social, and other aspects of the development of the global energy market. To increase the competitiveness of the Russian nuclear power industry, it is necessary to strengthen the existing advantages of Rosatom State Corporation, as well as state support for programs aimed at the development of nuclear technologies, both in the energy sector and in other sectors of the economy, including healthcare. The issues of developing international cooperation are particularly relevant when realizing the export potential of Russian nuclear energy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 118 ◽  
pp. 03022
Author(s):  
Olga Vladimirovna Glikman ◽  
Aziza Ulugbekovna Nazarova ◽  
Alina Valeryevna Filippova ◽  
Ekaterina Gennadyevna Minenkova

The purpose of the study is to identify trends and compare the scope of multilateral and bilateral international legal regulation of relations between Russia and other Eurasian Economic Union members in the field of peaceful use of nuclear power (energy). The methodological basis of the research consists of general scientific and special legal methods. The application of these methods made it possible to subject the current national legislation in the field of nuclear energy to in-depth comparative legal analysis and to identify the prospects for its modernization. The result of the study was the absence of special provisions in the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union aimed at integration in the nuclear energy sector and the formation of a common nuclear energy market of the Eurasian Economic Union. The study’s novelty lies in the authors’ approach to the allocation and comparison of the scope and subject matter of existing international treaties of Russia with other Eurasian Economic Union members, regulating cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy, which are not included in the Eurasian Economic Union law. According to the authors, despite the prospects and trends of forming the Eurasian Economic Union nuclear law noted by experts, Russia’s bilateral international agreements with other Eurasian Economic Union members will continue to play a special role in regulating relations in the nuclear energy sector.


Author(s):  
Volodymyr Boiko ◽  
Iryna Miskevych

This article examines the current prospects for developing nuclear energy in Ukraine in terms of sustainable development. The strategic importance of nuclear energy for Ukraine is indicated. The advantages of nuclear energy in the context of electricity production's external costs over other energy generation technologies are noted. Today, nuclear energy is considered the most cost-effective low-carbon energy source. An analysis of reports from the Atomic Energy Agency and the US Department of Energy shows that nuclear power generation is a leader in many countries' energy sector, producing cheaper electricity than traditional TPPs. The main challenges for the energy system of Ukraine are highlighted. Among them are: wear and tear and impact on the environment of thermal generation (equipment at thermal power plants is worn out by 70–90 %); the unsatisfactory pace of modernization of the main generating capacities, mainly TPPs; the inconsistency of the flexibility of the United Energy System (UES) of Ukraine with the development of "green" energy (increasing the share of "green" energy increases the risks of UES sustainability) and the corresponding ill-consideredness in the pace and scale of renewable energy implementation. Lack of shunting power; the need to duplicate the capacity of renewable energy due to the low installed capacity factor (ICUF) and significant dependence on natural and climatic conditions; the need to replace existing nuclear power units, which end their extended service life with new, more modern ones that will meet the latest safety and economy standards; the imperfection of the electricity market, primarily in the context of its sale by nuclear generation producers under bilateral agreements; deficit of investments in the whole fuel and energy complex. The main prospects for the development of nuclear energy in Ukraine are identified. Completion of Units 3 and 4 of Khmelnytskyi NPP (KhNPP) remains a critical prospect. An obstacle to this for Ukraine is the lack of appropriate technologies on the Ukrainian side and the curtailment of cooperation with Russia and companies belonging to this state. Another obstacle is that the promising power units of KhNPP based on WWER-1000 belong to the second generation, which today do not morally meet the latest trends and requirements in efficiency and safety standards. Theoretically, Western leaders in the nuclear industry, Orano and Westinghouse, could develop nuclear power plants based on their next-generation "3" and "3+" reactors, where the essential safety requirements are already embedded in the original design of the unit. Another option would be to implement a small modular reactor technology project in Ukraine. Technologically, this will quickly resolve the issue of load management, which arose due to the rapid increase in the share of renewable energy generation in our country. This type of reactor has a significant advantage, which in addition to the minimum load on the environment is: the possibility of placement in areas where additional services are needed in the energy market; low construction costs; frequency of service and operating time; the full cycle of work with fuel. In general, low-power reactors can be used to implement the strategy of hybrid power generation (renewable + nuclear energy).


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmad Saifuddin Bukhari

In recent years, Rosatom has dominated the world nuclear energy market. This Russian state-owned company has around 36 portfolios of new nuclear power plants (NPP) in various countries. In addition, Rosatom also controls about 17% of the nuclear fuel market. This research aims to find out how Rosatom can dominate the global nuclear energy market. To answer that, this study used a qualitative descriptive research method with the neomerkantilism concept approach. The data collection technique is done by means of literature study or literature study. The results of this study indicate that Rosatom can dominate the global nuclear energy market due to the influence and support of the Russian state. Russia made Rosatom a state-owned company aimed at pursuing maximum revenue through exports of nuclear energy for the sake of increasing the national economy as well as its global political influence.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 153-158
Author(s):  
E. V. YANUSIK ◽  

The article discusses the main prerequisites for the development of nuclear energy in the global econo-my, also defines nuclear energy and discusses the structure of global energy consumption. The article proves that the crucial prerequisite for the development of nuclear energy in the world market is the economic efficiency of nuclear power plants.


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