INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Sri Lanka currently imports most of its energy needs, including oil, coal and hydrocarbons
To ease the economic burden, the island nation aims to generate 70% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030.Russia has emerged as
one of the strongest contenders to build nuclear power plants in Sri Lanka, according to a media report published on Tuesday.According to
the report, a high-level delegation from Russia recently visited the island nation and discussed proposed cooperation in the nuclear energy
sector with the Sri Lankan authorities.Chairman of the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Authority (SLAEA) Prof
plants in the island nation after the SLAEA gave the green light to nuclear power.Why Russia Is Foremost ContenderRussia has taken a leading
position in building nuclear power plants in South Asian countries
It has demonstrated its efficiency and understanding of the region by building plants in countries such as Bangladesh, China and India.In
addition, recently, Russia signed a memorandum with Burkina Faso, a country in West Africa, to construct a nuclear power plant.Meanwhile,
earlier speaking with Sputnik, Sergey Pikin, director of the Energy Development Fund, a Moscow-based think tank, said Russia can support
them as it is also a supplier of technology, help them (Sri Lanka) while constructing the station, and with other requirements, including
countries.Sri Lanka, a country of 22 million people, secured a $2.9 billion bailout loan from the International Monetary Fund to end its
heavily reliant on fossil fuels (10 TWh) and hydropower (5 TWh), with small contributions from wind and solar
nuclear power programme through an Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review
