Prospects for the use of low-power nuclear power plants based on the RITM-200N nuclear reactor in the development of mining enterprises in Mongolia (Part 1. Energy and georesources of Mongolia)

In two parts of the article, the possibilities of using nuclear energy in the development of mining deposits in Mongolia are presented. It is shown that the subsoil of Mongolia contains a significant resource potential of critical metals necessary for green technologies, which allows creating new enterprises or significantly increasing production volumes at existing ones. The issue of prospects for the development of low-power nuclear power plants (ASMM) as an important technological direction in the economy of Mongolia is investigated. It has been established that the lack of reliable information on the amount of associated critical metals in ores and concentrates of known deposits, technological issues of extraction and low profitability of production hinder the realization of this potential. Due to Mongolia’s territorial isolation between Russia and China, difficult climatic and geographical conditions, and low population development of the country’s territory and resources, the speed of its economic development is low. It is determined that with huge reserves of strategic minerals, the current situation is characterized by a low level of development and the rate of return on investment funds. The shortage of electricity is met by electricity imported from Russia. It is proposed to use a low-power nuclear power plant (ASMM) based on the RITM-200N nuclear reactor for energy supply and development of mining enterprises in Mongolia. The advantages of ASMM for the location area in Mongolia are a high installed capacity coefficient (KIUM); reduction of CO2 emissions when replacing thermal power plants; less financing, short payback periods, lower technological risks in mass production of equipment, design and construction. ACMMS are suitable for a small power grid in Mongolia, where the discreteness factor of power units is critical for redundancy and planning of network solutions. Research in the development of ASMM as a mass energy technology can become an important technological direction in the Mongolian electric power industry. The increase in specific capital investments for units with low-power reactors due to economies of scale can be significantly reduced due to modularity and mass production, simplification of technical and construction solutions, and in-line construction on one site. Modularity and mass production are important conditions for faster technological learning, as well as reducing unit investment and operating costs, and increasing the competitiveness of ASMM.