ALBANIA’S NUCLEAR DREAM | OPINION
Nuclear Albania and resilient energy
With nuclear energy now firmly back on the table as countries look to diversify supply and decarbonise their economies, what role can nuclear technology play as Albania looks to bolster its energy security with a simultaneous focus on climate targets and affordability
By Dr. Valentina Dedi, Lead Economic Advisor at KBR Consulting International
ALBANIA DOES NOT CURRENTLY HAVE any nuclear plants of its own but has considered developing them in the past to ensure long term energy security. The Albanian government looked at building its first nuclear power plant 15 years ago to meet its own energy needs while planning to export excess electricity to other Balkan countries, as well as Italy via an underwater cable. Nuclear energy is an important low-emission source of electricity. Today, it represents the second-largest source after hydropower at a share of about 10% of global electricity generation. Nuclear energy can also deliver significant volumes of electricity. A single large-scale reactor, for example, can produce more than 1,600 MW of power. The deployment of nuclear, therefore, could make a significant contribution to Albania’s energy security. The sustainability of the country’s power supply has become a national challenge. Albania remains a net importer and its own power sector relies almost entirely on hydro, which makes it vulnerable to weather patterns. Nuclear energy would inevitably reduce the current reliance on hydropower, securing additional supplies and helping avoid outages which have a socio-economic impact on the country and its citizens.
Below: Foreign investors could support the Albanian government’s capacity to finance a large nuclear project is limited
A capital-intensive and complex project Nuclear plants are capital-intensive. They are large complex constructions, requiring significant workforce, huge amounts of steel and concrete, and several operational systems to provide electricity, cooling, ventilation, information, control and communication, among others. Due to their complexity, they involve long lead times, at an average of around seven years – although timelines can vary widely. As such, costs for a single reactor installation
can range from US44-10 billion, explaining why many projects require government financial support to get off the ground.
In the case of Albania, though, the government’s capacity
to finance such a project is seriously inhibited as the costs equate to around half of the country’s GDP. And for a country like Albania, with no previous nuclear programme, projects can carry substantial and costly risks such as overruns and delays, which can further affect the total cost of construction. The involvement of foreign investors could help –
to some extent – mitigate some of the financial and construction challenges for a country with no previous experience in building and operating nuclear plants. However, Albania would still need to develop its domestic expertise and invest in upskilling its in-country workforce so it has the capability for the safe management of such a venture, in line with guidance from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that ‘the responsibility for safety cannot be delegated to another country or organisation.’ Developing the right regulatory and legal framework, which is also currently lacking, as well as establishing independent regulatory oversight would be important prerequisites for the safe operation of a nuclear plant, as well as to boost public confidence. Safety and the potential for environmental damage caused by the radioactive waste produced are also crucial for the safe deployment of nuclear energy. The ability to secure and stockpile uranium, the primary fuel for nuclear reactors, and develop an effective programme for handling nuclear waste are challenges that the government needs to further consider.
Building a resilient energy system Ultimately, improving energy supply to bolster Albania’s economic development and growth will require a diversified mix of energy sources, with a focus on the deployment of cleaner forms of energy. While the role of nuclear power should not be excluded, the government should aim to develop an energy masterplan that is coherent with the country’s broader economic, social, and environmental circumstances.
Over the medium to long-term, once the right
groundwork has been laid out, Albania could re-consider the inclusion of nuclear energy to its energy mix portfolio to further support the country’s vision for improved energy diversification and security. ■
www.neimagazine.com | May 2024 | 31
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