Russian Small Nuclear Technology May Help Power Remote Regions of Brazil

Nikolai Patrushev, aide to the Russian President and Chairman of the Maritime Board, stated during talks held in Brasilia on August 7 that Russia's accumulated experience in the field of low-power nuclear energy is expected to be valued by Brazil. He noted that given Brazil's ongoing development of its own ship-based nuclear reactors, relevant Russian technologies and engineering expertise could serve as a reference in this process.

Patrushev mentioned that potential bilateral cooperation is not limited to ship-based reactors, but may also extend to areas such as small nuclear power plants and floating nuclear power units. Among these, the "Elena-M" small nuclear power plant and floating energy devices deployable in water areas or coastal regions are regarded as solutions suitable for long-term, stable power supply, particularly applicable to remote areas with inconvenient transportation and weak infrastructure.

From the perspective of Brazil's actual needs, the Amazon region and parts of inland areas have long faced issues such as high electricity transmission costs and unstable power supply. If small nuclear power devices can achieve low-maintenance, long-cycle operation, they could theoretically provide supplementary power sources for mining areas, ports, research bases, and remote communities, reducing dependence on diesel transport and traditional fossil energy.

The Russian side emphasized that such projects feature versatility, economic efficiency, and safety, and can be regarded as "nuclear battery"-type energy solutions. In addition to Rosatom, the Kurchatov Institute was also mentioned as an institution capable of implementing relevant projects, indicating Russia's intention to expand cooperation space with Brazil in the nuclear energy and marine technology fields through multi-institutional participation.