Determination of the highest possible capital costs for the construction of a nuclear power plant based on data from construction abroad

In many countries, different points of view concerning the advantages of one or another technology for generating electricity are now encountered in the course of developing a strategy for increasing power production. The advantages and drawbacks of coal- and gas-burning and other types of power plants are discussed. Analysis of the possible development of nuclear power is given prominent place in the discussions. China, Finland, and India have now assigned an important role for the construction of new nuclear power plants in their energy programs. In other countries, discussions are continuing. In the present paper, the data on the construction of power plants abroad are used as a basis to extrapolate the basic factors influencing the profitability and competitiveness of various designs and to determine the role of Russian nuclear power in the competition on foreign markets.