Russia's Kurchatov Institute to Receive 5.7 Billion Rubles in Fiscal Budget Support: Focusing on Controlled Thermonuclear Fusion and Advanced Plasma Technology R&D

The National Research Centre "Kurchatov Institute" will receive approximately 5.7 billion Rubles in dedicated funding support from the Russian federal budget during the period from 2027 to 2029. This fiscal allocation will be specifically used to advance key technology breakthroughs in Controlled Thermonuclear Fusion, as well as the R&D and experimental validation of innovative Plasma Technologies. The above funding plan is explicitly stated in the draft explanatory document of the 2027–2029 federal budget bill published in the electronic database of the Russian State Duma...

2026-10-03

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

Rosatom has developed the first batch of nuclear fuel assemblies for the MBIR multi-purpose fast reactor, successfully passing factory acceptance testing

At the site of the Fuel Technology Division of the State Scientific Center — Research Institute of Atomic Reactors (NIIAR, Dimitrovgrad), under the Scientific Division of Rosatom, the first batch of 3 pilot nuclear fuel assemblies (Fuel assemblies / ТВС) for the multi-purpose sodium-cooled fast neutron research reactor (MBIR) successfully completed comprehensive factory acceptance tests. The professional acceptance committee conducted a thorough review of the maturity and completeness of the fuel production process line for this batch as well as all technical performance parameters of the trial-manufactured assemblies, and completed high-precision geometric dimension and quality re-verification measurements item by item. This acceptance review brought together the expertise of multiple core research and manufacturing institutions in the Russian nuclear industry, including the Dollezhal Research and Development Institute of Power Engineering (NIKIET), the Institute of Physics and Power Engineering (IPPE), and the Machine-Building Plant Joint Stock Company (MSZ, Elemash).

2026-09-27

Unit 4 of Russia's Balakovo Nuclear Power Plant Shut Down for Planned Major Overhaul

On September 26, 2026, Unit 4 of the Balakovo Nuclear Power Plant, which is part of the Electric Power Division of Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation, was formally disconnected from the grid and entered the stage of preventive major overhaul and modernization upgrade in accordance with the established approved plan. Conducting preventive maintenance on a regular basis is a core routine measure for Russian nuclear power plants to maintain a high level of safety margin for equipment and ensure continuous and stable power grid supply. Alexey Portnov, Head of the Maintenance Management Department of the Balakovo Nuclear Power Plant, stated that as a key battle in the final stage of the plant's 2026 major overhaul, this overhaul round has planned multiple major equipment upgrade projects, with key scope covering the comprehensive replacement of valves and piping components in the spray pond, as well as the comprehensive replacement of the original lens-type expansion joints with new bellows expansion joints in the service water system, thereby enhancing the system's pressure-bearing capacity and fatigue resistance life.

2026-09-27

Afrikantov Experimental Design Bureau of Mechanical Engineering Completes Manufacture and Delivery of MBIR Fast Reactor Primary Coolant Circulation Pumps

The machine-building division of Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation (Госкорпорация «Росатом» / Rosatom), Afrikantov Experimental Design Bureau of Mechanical Engineering (АО «ОКБМ Африкантов» / OKBM Afrikantov), has completed the manufacture and delivery of the primary coolant circulation pumps (Главные циркуляционные насосы, ГЦН) for the multi-purpose fast neutron research reactor (МБИР / MBIR). As core equipment of the reactor facility, these circulation pumps will be responsible for driving the coolant to circulate within the reactor core...

2026-09-24

Unit 2 of Leningrad NPP-2 with a VVER-1200 reactor has been taken out of service as planned for a mid-term major overhaul

At 00:30 Moscow time on September 21, 2026, Unit 2 of Leningrad NPP-2 (Ленинградская АЭС-2 / Leningrad NPP-2) with a VVER-1200 (ВВЭР-1200) reactor was formally disconnected from the grid and entered a planned mid-term major overhaul (Плановый средний ремонт) in accordance with established approval procedures and the maintenance schedule of the Russian Power and Energy Group's Rosenergoatom Concern (АО «Концерн Росэнергоатом» / Rosenergoatom). The overhaul program covers hundreds of individual works, with a focus on the reactor and...

2026-09-24

Rosatom's Podolsk Machine-Building Plant Completes Manufacture of the Second RITM-200S Reactor for the First PEB-106 Floating Nuclear Power Plant

The Moscow Region enterprise Podolsk Machine-Building Plant (PAO ZiO-Podolsk), part of the mechanical engineering division of the State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom (Госкорпорация «Росатом» / Rosatom), has successfully manufactured the second RITM-200S (РИТМ-200С) reactor unit. This reactor will be installed on the PEB-106 (ПЭБ-106) floating nuclear power unit, designed specifically to ensure power supply for the large copper mining industrial cluster in the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug (Чукотский автономный округ / Chukotka Autonomous Okrug). The equipment has successfully passed hydraulic tests (Гидравлические испытания) confirming its structural strength, and a full-scale trial assembly (Контрольная сборка) verified absolute conformity of components with the design drawings.

2026-09-24

Balakovo NPP in Russia Conducts Steam Generator O&M Experience Exchange and Technical Support

Recently, at the Balakovo NPP in Saratov Oblast, Russia, a peer support mission focused on steam generator (Steam Generators / Парогенераторы) O&M technology and experience was successfully held. This event was a routine technical exchange organized by the WANO Moscow Centre (WANO-MC / ВАО АЭС-МЦ), aimed at bringing together industry expertise from multiple parties to further enhance the safety and reliability of nuclear power unit operation. The team participating in this support mission was composed of technical backbone personnel from multiple industry organizations and nuclear power plants, including the World Association of Nuclear...

2026-09-24

Modernization of the hydraulic blade stamping equipment for nuclear power plants at the Russian "Atom Machine" plant has been completed

On September 21, 2026, according to project information released by the Russian "Atom Machine" (Atom Machine, part of the Mechanical Engineering Division of the Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation "Rosatom"), the plant located in Volgodonsk (Волгодонск), Rostov Oblast, announced that its hydraulic blade stamping equipment for nuclear power plants, which is unique to date and has no equivalent in Russia, has completed modernization and successfully passed testing. It is understood that this hydraulic press with a force of up to 15,000 tonnes has now successfully passed all tests and is fully ready for production. This equipment was originally put into operation in 1980. In this modernization project, engineers not only...

2026-09-22

Drone Attack on Cooling Tower at Russia's Kursk Nuclear Power Plant

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced on Friday that it has confirmed a drone attack on a cooling tower at the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant in western Russia. The incident occurred on September 18, when the reactor was operating, but no fire broke out and the operational status was unaffected. Rosatom, Russia's state nuclear energy corporation, stated in a statement that the attack caused minor damage to the plant's Reactor No. 1, but operations were not affected. The IAEA has received relevant information and is investigating the incident. Based on the investigation results, the agency will take necessary measures to ensure the safe operation of the nuclear power plant....

2026-09-20

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

Russia's Kalinin Nuclear Power Plant Unit 2 begins scheduled comprehensive overhaul, equipment upgrades to be carried out

On September 19, 2026, Kalinin Nuclear Power Plant Unit 2 officially entered a period of scheduled maintenance according to plan. The unit belongs to Rosenergoatom, a branch of the Electric Power Division of Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation. The maintenance will involve nuclear fuel replacement, routine inspection and repair of the reactor and turbine generator set, as well as a comprehensive assessment of the technical condition of the metal materials of core equipment. During the maintenance period, technical personnel from the Kalinin Nuclear Power Plant will work closely with experts from Atomenergoremont Company. While carrying out routine maintenance, they will also implement nine upgrade and modification projects on some key nodes and process systems of Unit 2. The entire overhaul process requires...

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

First Batch of Radioactive Waste Transported from New Chernobyl Waste Processing Facility

The Industrial Complex for Solid Radwaste Management (ICSRM) at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant has officially shipped out seven containers of low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste after completing waste processing. This batch of waste has been transferred to the specially equipped Near-Surface Disposal Facility for Solid Radioactive Waste (ENDSF) for final disposal. The Industrial Complex for Solid Radwaste Management officially began operations in May this year after obtaining a license from the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine. The new complex is primarily used to process solid radioactive waste accumulated during the operation of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, which has been stored in the solid radioactive waste storage facility since 1978. Chernobyl...

2026-09-18

An independent expert team has once again confirmed the environmental safety of Russia's Rostov Nuclear Power Plant

Recently, the annual ecological expedition involving students and researchers from Southern Federal University successfully completed its second phase, and an independent expert team has once again confirmed the environmental safety of Russia's Rostov Nuclear Power Plant. During the expedition, researchers collected 200 soil samples and conducted nearly 500 measurements of air γ radiation dose rates. These sampling points had been established long before the nuclear power plant was put into operation and have been used continuously over the years. Through analysis of these samples, experts were able to accurately assess the local natural radiation background. Dr. Yelena Buraeva, head of the ecological expedition team, briefed the media in detail on the monitoring results sustained over many years, emphasizing that 25 years of...

2026-09-17

Alexey Likhachev: The situation at the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant is severe; the IAEA should not merely stop at recording attacks and issuing danger warnings

Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom, told the media during the IAEA General Conference held in Vienna, Austria, that if a disaster occurs at the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, which is under continuous shelling by the Ukrainian military, a radioactive cloud could spread to Vienna within tens of hours. Likhachev pointed out that the Ukrainian attacks have created unbearable living conditions for the residents of Enerhodar, the city where the nuclear power plant is located, and that other Russian nuclear power plants are also currently frequently attacked by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Likhachev emphasized that the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, located within the territory of the Russian Federation and operated and maintained by Russian citizens, ...

2026-09-15

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 Completes First Stage of Concrete Pouring for BREST Reactor Core Cavity

TVEL Fuel Company, a subsidiary of Rosatom, has announced that the future innovative nuclear power unit BREST-OD-300, located in Seversk, Tomsk Oblast, has successfully completed the first stage of concrete pouring for the reactor core inner cavity. The reactor is located at the site of the Generation IV Pilot Demonstration Energy Complex (ODEK) within the Siberian Chemical Combine (SCC) area, and is a core component of Russia's national strategic industry project Proryv (Breakthrough). The report noted that concrete pouring for the reactor body will proceed in multiple stages, with full completion expected in the winter of 2027, by which time the total amount of heat-resistant concrete used will exceed 7,000 cubic meters...

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