Russia to Develop General Safety Rules for Controlled Thermonuclear Fusion Facilities

The Federal Environmental, Industrial and Nuclear Supervision Service of Russia (Rostekhnadzor) has completed the development of the draft federal norms and rules in the field of atomic energy use, "General Provisions for Ensuring the Safety of Controlled Thermonuclear Fusion Facilities," and has been soliciting comments and suggestions on the results of the draft review since August 17, 2026, with a feedback deadline of September 17, 2026.

According to the draft, the document applies to controlled thermonuclear fusion facilities equipped with thermonuclear reactors or thermonuclear devices. The scope of application includes thermonuclear devices with a neutron production intensity exceeding 10²⁰ neutrons per second, or, in pulsed operation with a single pulse of less than 1 second, exceeding 10²⁰ neutrons per pulse, as well as facilities whose total neutron production over their full lifecycle exceeds 10²⁶ neutrons; it also includes facilities containing nuclear materials in quantities subject to state accounting and control of nuclear materials as required by law.

The draft proposes to clarify the criteria for classifying controlled thermonuclear fusion facilities as nuclear facilities, define safety criteria and safety principles, and make arrangements for technical, organizational and management requirements, classification of systems and components, requirements for personnel and relevant organizations, as well as measures for the protection of personnel and the public in the event of accidents. The draft proposes that controlled thermonuclear fusion facilities containing nuclear materials, as well as facilities with high-intensity thermonuclear devices, should be classified as nuclear facilities.

In terms of safety principles, the draft requires that the radiation impact of controlled thermonuclear fusion facilities on personnel, the public, and the environment under normal operation and deviations from normal operation up to design basis accident conditions shall not exceed the established limits; under beyond design basis accident conditions, the radiation impact shall be limited and the probability of accident occurrence shall be reduced. The draft also requires the implementation of safety assurance through a defense-in-depth system, including the establishment of physical barriers, as well as technical and organizational measures to protect the integrity of barriers and limit the spread of radioactive substances and nuclear materials into the environment.

The document also sets forth requirements for facility design, commissioning, operation, radiation safety, accident response, protection planning, and decommissioning. For high-intensity thermonuclear devices, hybrid controlled thermonuclear fusion facilities, and tritium-containing controlled thermonuclear fusion facilities, the draft lists additional safety requirements. In particular, hybrid facilities must ensure that the nuclear material blanket remains in a subcritical state during operation, while tritium-containing facilities must take measures to reduce tritium accumulation and control tritium release in the event of an accident.

Relevant comments and suggestions may be submitted within the specified period to the Department for Safety Regulation of Nuclear Power Plants and Nuclear Research Facilities of the Federal Environmental, Industrial and Nuclear Supervision Service of Russia.