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

First concrete poured for turbine building foundation of Unit 3 VVER-1200 at Leningrad NPP Phase II

On September 9, 2026, concrete pouring began for the foundation of the turbine building of Unit 3 VVER-1200 at Leningrad NPP Phase II in Russia. Construction workers have completed the pouring of the central section of the future foundation, with concrete consumption approaching 5,000 cubic meters. This pour is the first stage of construction of the foundation structure for this building. According to the plan, the contractor will use nearly 5,000 tonnes of rebar and more than 20,000 cubic meters of high-strength concrete to build a monolithic foundation slab 2.5 meters high and more than 8,000 square meters in area. The related operations are currently being carried out simultaneously in 7 construction zones. Konstantin Khudyakov, head of the Leningrad NPP project at TITAN-2 Holding (TITAN-2), said that the foundation construction of the turbine building places high demands on concrete quality, pouring technology and curing conditions, especially in the first few days after pouring, when it is necessary to focus on controlling on-site temperature and humidity and preventing mechanical damage. After the concrete reaches design strength, the contractor will, together with the owner, use non-destructive testing methods to inspect the structure, including ultrasonic testing; at the same time, specimens made from the same batch of concrete will also be subjected to compressive tests on a hydraulic press to confirm that the foundation is capable of bearing the loads of walls, floors, piping and large operating equipment.

2026-09-10

Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant Restores External Power Supply

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) has resumed receiving external electricity via the 330 kV Ferrospravnaya-1 transmission line. Previously, since August 20, the plant had relied on backup diesel generators to maintain essential on-site power for a duration of 19 days. Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom, stated that the plant has switched from diesel generator power to external power supply and is currently operating normally. The Zaporizhzhia NPP reported that following the restoration of the Ferrospravnaya-1 line, the backup diesel generators have been placed on standby. Rafael...

2026-09-08

Russian nuclear power plants generated 149.1 billion kWh of electricity in 2026 as of September 7

Rosenergoatom, a subsidiary of Russia's State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom), recently stated that as of September 7, Russian nuclear power plants had generated a cumulative total of 149.1 billion kWh of electricity in 2026. This output exceeds the target set for the same period by the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) by 6.73%. Data previously released by the Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat) shows that from January to July this year, electricity generation at Russian nuclear power plants increased by 2.2% year-on-year, reaching 126 billion kWh. In 2025, Russian nuclear power plants generated a total of 218.35 billion kWh for the full year. Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom, stated that the company plans to exceed the government's electricity generation target for the full year of 2026. The target is no less than 214 billion kWh.

2026-09-08

Russia Says IAEA to Rotate Inspectors at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in About a Week

Alexey Likhachev, CEO of Rosatom, said on September 7 that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) mission at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is about to undergo a new round of personnel rotation. Likhachev stated that the 35th group of IAEA inspectors is expected to arrive at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in about a week. He noted that, as with previous rotation arrangements, the operation will be conducted within the territory of the Russian Federation to ensure safety. The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is one of Europe's largest nuclear power facilities by installed capacity. The IAEA maintains a continuous on-site presence at the plant and conducts relevant nuclear safety and security observation activities through regular rotation of inspectors.

2026-09-08

Russia Plans to Build Floating Nuclear Power Plant Production Facility Near Murmansk

Rosatom is considering building its own production facility near Murmansk to complete the construction of floating nuclear power plants. The company believes that as related orders increase, the capacity of existing partners may struggle to meet future demand. Baltic Shipyard is one of Rosatom's key partners. The Akademik Lomonosov floating nuclear power plant and four Project 22220 Arktika-class nuclear-powered icebreakers were all built at this shipyard. Currently, the two sides continue to maintain close cooperation, with a significant portion of Baltic Shipyard's orders related to Rosatom projects. Russia...

2026-09-04

Russia's Primorsky Krai Nuclear Power Plant Planned to Connect to Grid by 2031

Rosatom plans to connect the Primorsky Krai Nuclear Power Plant to the power grid by 2031. The company's CEO, Alexey Likhachev, stated on September 3 during the Eastern Economic Forum that the project is progressing according to established targets. Likhachev said Rosatom is working to ensure the first concrete pour for the plant's first unit is completed by the end of 2027. Under current plans, the project aims to achieve grid connection and power generation by 2031, with full commercial operation in 2032. He also noted that the Far East region, particularly Primorsky Krai, still lacks sufficient experience in nuclear energy utilization...

2026-09-04

Progress on Contract Work for Vietnam's Ninh Thuan 1 Nuclear Power Plant

Alexey Likhachev, President of Rosatom, stated on September 3 during the Eastern Economic Forum that contract work for the construction and operation of Vietnam's first nuclear power plant, Ninh Thuan 1, is progressing. Likhachev said that relevant contract documents are being expedited, with the goal of reaching legally binding agreements on the project timeline and configuration options. He noted that the VVER-1200 Generation III+ reactor has been selected as the technical solution for the Ninh Thuan 1 Nuclear Power Plant. Meanwhile, both sides are also conducting preliminary research work on a research reactor. Vietnam's National Assembly decided in December 2024 to restart the Ninh Thuan 1 Nuclear Power Plant project. The project was previously suspended in 2016. According to an intergovernmental agreement signed during the Vietnamese Prime Minister's visit to Russia in March this year, the Ninh Thuan 1 Nuclear Power Plant will be built using advanced Russian technology and financed through a special loan provided by the Russian Federation.

2026-09-04

Russia Plans Floating Small Nuclear Power Plant in Yakutia

Andrey Petrov, First Deputy CEO for Nuclear Energy at Rosatom and President of JSC Atomstroyexport, stated that Russia's Ministry of Energy has supported the advancement of a floating small nuclear power plant project in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum, Petrov noted that according to the relevant master plan, the Yakutia small nuclear power plant needs to be completed by 2031. The new option currently under study involves converting the originally planned land-based nuclear power plant into a floating nuclear power plant. He said the floating option offers lower costs and shorter construction timelines, and can meet Yakutia's current electricity demand of approximately 106 MW...

2026-09-04

Armenia to Discuss New Nuclear Power Plant Options with Rosatom

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated at a press conference on September 3 that Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom, will visit Armenia in September, and the two sides will discuss possible options for constructing a new nuclear power plant within Armenia. Pashinyan noted that Armenia expects Likhachev's visit to bring forward Russia's specific proposals regarding the construction of a new nuclear power plant in Armenia. He said that Armenia will prioritize economic viability and project pricing when selecting a nuclear power project, aiming to secure the most cost-effective construction plan. In May of this year, the Russian side had indicated...

2026-09-04

Hungary's Paks II Nuclear Project May Require Major Adjustments

According to sources familiar with Hungary's nuclear industry and discussions on the Paks II nuclear project, the new Hungarian government led by Peter Magyar believes that the Paks II project, based on Russia's Rosatom design, can only proceed if major adjustments are made. Sources said that due to factors such as ethics, technology, sanctions restrictions, licensing procedures, and existing contract terms, the Paks II project is difficult to continue under its original arrangement. However, industry insiders also believe that it would not be appropriate to abandon the project outright due to short-term sentiment or temporary setbacks. If more participants could be brought in,...

2026-09-04

Iran Plans to Advance Both a Large and a Small Nuclear Power Plant Project

Alexey Likhachev, CEO of Rosatom, stated that the site of Iran's Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant has returned to a stable state, and Russian experts are gradually returning to the site to participate in the construction and maintenance of related units. According to Likhachev, 45 Russian personnel are currently at the Bushehr site, with about 30 more preparing to arrive. As planned, the number of Russian personnel on site will increase to 100 by September, mainly including construction project managers and supervision staff. While advancing existing projects, Russia and Iran are discussing new nuclear cooperation. Previously, the two sides had signed an agreement to build another large nuclear power plant...

2026-09-03