MOSCOW, February 27 /TASS/. Rosatom State Corporation has never used the supply of products to its foreign partners as a blackmail tool, General Director of the state corporation Alexey Likhachev told TASS.

"In the entire history of the Russian nuclear industry, we have never used supplies of our products as a tool of blackmail. All our clients are well aware of this," he said.

According to Likhachev, nuclear energy safety has always been, is, and will continue to be a top priority. "We understand, more than anyone else, the critical role that the continuous supply of nuclear fuel or components for its creation plays in the nuclear power life cycle. And even in critical times, like it was in the pandemic, Rosatom meets all of its commitments," he noted.

He emphasized that finding an alternative to Rosatom products is becoming increasingly difficult. Products of Rosatom have no alternatives in the world’s market at present, Likhachev added. "We understand there is a product nobody except us can offer now in the market in required scope. It is also impossible to find an alternative to our supplies right now -years of hard work are required to do that," the chief executive said. Rosatom is ready to share its competencies with friendly countries, Likhachev added.

At the same time, Rosatom sees good prospects for cooperation with Brazil, China and African nations, Likhachev said. "Russian nuclear fuel cycle plants are self-sufficient and continue strengthening their positions outside the EU and North America. We already see now sound prospects of building up cooperation with companies and countries like China, Brazil and countries of the African continent, which count on nuclear energy as a sustainable source of pure energy and share the approach to providing for deliveries of uranium products on predictable conditions and in interests of end users," Likhachev said.

Russia is a definite leader in many areas in the global nuclear market at present, the chief executed noted. "We are building most of all nuclear power plants overseas and are among the top three in all stages of the nuclear fuel cycle and uranium production. Speaking about exports of nuclear technologies, our competitors are already weaker. Among the 26 export nuclear power generating units under construction globally, 22 are being built under our projects. This is more than 80% of the market. This is the niche we have already captured and nobody will be able to implement these projects in lieu of us," Likhachev added.