Russia's Kursk Nuclear Power Plant Loads Improved Nuclear Fuel for the First Time

Recently, Russia's State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom) announced that the loading of the first batch of improved low-erbium-oxide-content nuclear fuel assemblies (TVS PSE) into the RBMK-1000 reactors of Units 3 and 4 at the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant has been successfully completed, with official permission obtained from the Federal Service for Ecological, Technological and Nuclear Supervision of the Russian Federation. It is reported that the new fuel was developed and produced by the Machine-Building Plant (MSZ) in Elektrostal, a subsidiary of Rosatom. Denis Pereguda, Deputy Chief Engineer for Safety at the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant, stated that the fuel composition optimization scheme is based on independent calculations by leading nuclear research institutions such as NIKIET...

2026-10-30

Rosatom Plans to Export Floating Nuclear Power Plants to Four African Countries

Recently, Alexey Likhachev, CEO of Rosatom, stated at the Third Russia-Africa Summit held in Moscow that the company is in in-depth consultations with four African coastal countries—Egypt, Togo, Namibia, and Tanzania—regarding the deployment of 100 MW offshore floating nuclear power plants (FNPPs). It is reported that the floating nuclear power plants offered by Rosatom to the African market are equipped with two RITM-200M reactors adapted for tropical climates, with a total installed capacity of approximately 100 MW and a design life of up to 60 years. The project plans to adopt a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) business model, with Rosatom responsible for...

2026-10-30

First Batch of Nuclear Fuel Delivered to Unit 2 of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Bangladesh

Recently, Rosatom announced that the first batch of fresh nuclear fuel for Unit 2 of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Bangladesh has been successfully delivered to the project site and is currently being properly stored in a dedicated storage facility. It is reported that this batch of nuclear fuel assemblies was manufactured at the Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant, a production facility of Rosatom's TVEL Fuel Company, and was delivered through combined air and road transport. A joint inspection team composed of Bangladeshi experts, the general contractor, and manufacturing plant representatives is conducting mandatory incoming inspections at the site, including visual and instrumental testing, to ensure that the fuel fully complies with...

2026-10-29

Rosatom Plans to Build Eight New Nuclear Power Units and SMRs in Iran

Recently, Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom, announced that Russia and Iran have reached an agreement to jointly construct 8 new nuclear power units in Iran, and signed a cooperation agreement this autumn for the construction of small modular reactor (SMR) nuclear power generation facilities in Iran. It is reported that the two sides are currently steadily advancing the construction of Units 2 and 3 of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant. Likhachev refuted rumors that Russian personnel might evacuate from Bushehr, and explicitly stated that Rosatom is expanding the on-site construction workforce as planned, with the total number of Chinese and Russian technical personnel on site expected to gradually increase to ...

2026-10-28

First Small Modular Reactor in Uzbekistan Scheduled to Complete Base Slab Concrete Pouring by End of 2026

Recently, Rosatom announced that the concrete pouring of the foundation base slab for the first 55 MW small modular reactor (SMR) building of the Jizzakh nuclear power project in Uzbekistan is progressing steadily and is expected to be fully completed by the end of 2026. It is reported that 25 large construction machinery and equipment have been deployed at the project site, concentrating efforts on the continuous pouring of the reactor building foundation base slab. As Uzbekistan's first nuclear power plant, the project adopts Rosatom's land-based small modular reactor design developed based on RITM-200N technology, marking a solid step forward for Uzbekistan in advancing its national energy transition and...

2026-10-27

Rosatom Joins Forces with Prosoft-Systems and Reglab to Deepen Cooperation, Boosting Gen IV Nuclear Power and Industrial Autonomous Automation

During the Russian Energy Week international forum held in Moscow, JSC Rusatom Automated Control Systems (RASU), the core management entity of Rosatom's Automation Control Systems and Electrical Engineering Division, formally signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Prosoft-Systems LLC and its controlled subsidiary Reglab LLC. The parties will deeply integrate their technological expertise in industrial-grade hardware development, software development, and turnkey control system engineering deployment...

2026-10-18

Rosatom and Indonesia Reach Historic Agreement to Implement First Floating Nuclear Power Plant Power Supply Export Project

Rosatom State Corporation and Indonesian state-owned enterprise PT Pembangkit Listrik Nuklir have reached an agreement to supply electricity generated by floating nuclear power units to electricity customers in North Maluku Province in eastern Indonesia. The agreement was signed on October 16, 2026, in Moscow during Russian Energy Week (REW), marking an important milestone in bilateral energy cooperation between Russia and Indonesia. Under the project plan, Rosatom State Corporation will deploy two FPU-...

2026-10-17

Unit 1 of Turkey's Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant is planned to start criticality before the end of the year

Recently, Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom, stated that the first reactor of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant in Turkey is expected to be officially loaded with fuel and achieve first criticality (i.e., the first self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction) in the second half of December this year, pushing the project to formally transition from the construction phase to the commissioning and startup phase. It is understood that the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant is Turkey's first nuclear power plant. The project plans to build 4 Russian VVER-1200 Generation III reactors, with a total investment exceeding US$20 billion, fully funded and constructed by Rosatom under the Build-Own-Operate (BOO) model....

2026-10-17

KhimMed to Build Large-Scale Electrolyte Plant for Rosatom, Securing Supply Chain for Gigafactories

Recently, the Fuel Division of Rosatom, Russia's state nuclear energy corporation, signed a cooperation agreement with KhimMed, a diversified chemical holding company, announcing joint development of domestically produced key components for lithium-ion batteries and the construction of industrial-scale electrolyte production facilities at KhimMed's existing site. It is understood that the new facility has a potential annual production capacity of up to 10,000 tons of electrolyte, sufficient to support the production of lithium-ion batteries with a total capacity of 15 GWh to 20 GWh. By comparison, the two gigafactories planned by Rosatom's Fuel Division in Kaliningrad Oblast and Moscow Oblast have a combined planned capacity of 8 GWh, meaning that the electrolyte plant's output can not only fully meet Rosatom's own...

2026-10-16

Russia's Balakovo NPP Meets 2026 Metal Decontamination and Recycling Target Ahead of Schedule, Over 57 Tonnes of Purified Steel Ingots Return to Industrial Circulation

Rosenergoatom, the electric power division of Rosatom, has announced that its Balakovo Nuclear Power Plant (Balakovo NPP) has completed its 2026 target for Very Low-Level Waste (VLLW) disposal and metal recycling ahead of schedule. The plant has transferred a cumulative 80 tonnes of very low-level iron-containing metal waste to external specialized processing enterprises. Following deep decontamination and remelting refinement, more than 57 tonnes of clean metal ingots meeting unrestricted release standards were ultimately produced, fully realizing the recycling and regeneration of materials from decommissioned nuclear power equipment. According to the long-term radioactive waste management plan published by Balakovo NPP, the site plans to...

2026-10-14

The 20th International Nuclear Forum Concludes in Obninsk: Focusing on Nuclear Emergency Preparedness and Response, Rosatom Showcases Nearly 3,000 Professional Emergency Responders

With the support of the Public Council of Rosatom, the 20th International Nuclear Forum "Nuclear Technology Safety: Emergency Preparedness and Response," hosted by the Rosatom Technical Academy, successfully concluded on October 9, 2026, in Obninsk. As the birthplace of the world's first nuclear power plant, Obninsk hosted this milestone annual international event for the first time. The forum attracted more than 100 nuclear safety and emergency experts from Russia and abroad. In addition to Rosatom, the Federal Service for Ecological, Technological and Nuclear Supervision (Rostechnadzor), Rosenergoatom, the Rosatom Emergency Technical Center, and the NPO Typhoon research and production association...

2026-10-12

Rosatom Proposes New VVER-1000 Nuclear Power Unit to Armenia

Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom, recently stated in Yerevan that the company has submitted specific proposals to the Armenian government for the construction of a gigawatt-class VVER-1000 nuclear power unit. The proposal is based on an assessment of Armenia's electricity demand through 2040 and plans to adopt Russia's mature pressurized water reactor technology, the VVER-1000, which features Generation 3+ safety systems and competitive electricity pricing advantages, and has already been built and commissioned in Russia, India, Iran, and other countries. The Russian side calls this option the optimal choice for the international market and is willing to develop the project into a comprehensive cooperation project attracting international suppliers. Previously, Likhachev held talks with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and...

2026-10-03

Rosatom Establishes Third Base Laboratory in Seversk to Cultivate Fourth-Generation Nuclear Power Engineering Talent Through Targeted Training

In the closed administrative-territorial formation of Seversk (ZATO Seversk) in Tomsk Oblast, Russia, Rosatom has officially established and commissioned its third industry Base Laboratory under the framework of the national science and technology leadership project "New Nuclear and Energy Technologies" (Новые атомные и энергетические технологии). The laboratory focuses on fourth-generation nuclear power engineering practice, aiming to provide systematic advanced talent reserves for Russia's and the world's first "reactor + closed nuclear fuel cycle" demonstration facility. The co-construction cooperation agreement for this Base Laboratory was signed by Ros...

2026-09-27

ACRA Rating Agency Confirms Rosatom's ESG Rating at ESG-2 (AA+) Level

On September 18, 2026, according to the latest assessment results, ACRA Rating Agency confirmed that the ESG rating of Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom) remains at the ESG-2 (AA+) level, which represents the company's exceptionally high evaluation in the areas of environmental protection, social responsibility, and corporate governance. This also marks the fourth consecutive year that the agency has confirmed this exceptionally high rating for Rosatom. At the same time, the rating agency assigned a stable outlook to the group, meaning that its ESG rating is highly likely to remain stable over the next 12 to 18 months. To carry out the data collection work for this ESG rating, six core divisions under Rosatom actively participated, including the mining division, the power division, ...

2026-09-20

Rosatom Establishes New Laboratory to Test Molten Salt Reactor Spent Fuel Reprocessing Technology

The first production site of the Khlopin Radium Institute, part of Rosatom's research division, is completing the construction of a new laboratory that will be dedicated to testing the processing and reprocessing technology for spent nuclear fuel (SNF) from molten salt reactors (JSR/MSR). In the first phase of facility testing, it is planned to synthesize simulated fuel compositions based on lithium fluoride and beryllium fluoride, with added simulants of fission products and plutonium; subsequently, the technology will be validated on models, and ultimately practical application will be carried out on the basis of the research molten salt reactor (IZHSR) being built in Zheleznogorsk. The related construction, installation, and commissioning work is planned for completion by the end of 2026, and to prepare for...

2026-09-18

Smolensk NPP Phase II Units Pass State Environmental Review

Recently, the Russian State Environmental Expert Review body has issued a positive conclusion on the justification materials for the construction license of Units 1 and 2 of the Smolensk NPP Phase II project. This conclusion marks the formal confirmation of the project's environmental feasibility at the national level, and also validates the remarkable achievements made through long-term cooperation between the owner Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation and the general designer Rosatom Engineering Design JSC. The conclusion was officially announced at a working group meeting held at the Smolensk NPP, marking a new milestone in the project's advancement. Smolensk NPP Director Ivan Sidorov emphasized at the meeting...

2026-09-15

Russia's Second Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride Processing Plant Officially Commissioned, Uranium Conversion Capacity Expected to Double

The depleted uranium processing facility at the Zelenogorsk Electrochemical Plant in Krasnoyarsk Krai has been officially commissioned recently. According to a statement by Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom, the commissioning of this new facility has doubled Russia's capacity for depleted uranium hexafluoride (DUHF) processing. This is also the second such DUHF processing plant built in Russia, with an annual capacity of 10,000 tonnes, while the first plant of the same type previously operating at the same site had already been commissioned earlier. In his statement, Likhachev said that the commissioning of the new depleted uranium hexafluoride processing facility is of great significance for the Electrochemical Plant, Rosatom's fuel division...

2026-09-14

Rosatom Director General to hold talks with Grossi during IAEA General Conference

On September 11, Alexey Likhachev, Director General of the State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom (Rosatom), said that he plans to hold talks with Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, during the IAEA General Conference. Likhachev said that the 70th IAEA General Conference will open in Vienna on Monday, and it is one of the important annual events in the international nuclear field. During the meeting, the Russian side plans to meet with Grossi and hopes to reach agreement on Grossi's visit to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. Likhachev also said that the next rotation of IAEA experts stationed at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is expected to take place...

2026-09-13

Egypt's El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant May Add More Units, Russian and Egyptian Presidents Discuss Expansion Possibility

On September 11, Alexey Likhachev, CEO of the State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom (Rosatom), said that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi discussed the possibility of adding generating units at Egypt's El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant. Likhachev said the two sides discussed next steps for the project, including reserving nuclear fuel for next year and first advancing operations related to the technical startup of Unit 1. He stated that the El Dabaa nuclear power plant site can accommodate not only the 4 reactors currently under construction, but broadly speaking can also accommodate a comparable number of reactors, which was also a key focus of this discussion...

2026-09-12

Russia and India Plan to Sign Nuclear Energy Cooperation Documents

Alexey Likhachev, Director General of the State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom (Rosatom), stated that Russia and India are preparing to sign a series of bilateral cooperation documents in the field of nuclear energy. The preparation of the relevant documents has reached a relatively high level of maturity and is ready for direct signing. Likhachev said that the documents to be signed involve multiple areas of cooperation, including fourth-generation nuclear energy technology using fast neutron reactors. Such cooperation will be carried out around the direction of advanced nuclear energy technology....

2026-09-12

Vietnam to Join International Consortium for Russia's MBIR Fast Neutron Research Reactor

On September 9, the press service of Rosatom announced that Vietnam will join the international consortium for Russia's MBIR multi-purpose fast neutron research reactor. The reactor is currently under construction in Dimitrovgrad, Russia. Under the arrangement, the Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute (Vinatom) has been designated as Vietnam's lead organization for participation in the International Research Centre MBIR (IRC MBIR) project based on the MBIR reactor. Tran Chi Thanh, President of the Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute, stated in a declaration that participation in the project will give Vietnam more direct access to this unique experimental platform, further...

2026-09-10