Russia has approved the building of a nuclear power plant in Myanmar, according to the UK-based Nuclear Engineering International magazine.

It reported that Moscow approved the construction of a low-power nuclear plant.

A draft agreement submitted by Russia’s State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom) aims to build a plant with a capacity of at least 110 megawatts using Russian pressurized water reactors, it reported on Monday(June 3,2024).

Moscow and the regime signed a memorandum of understanding at the Atom Expo in 2022 in the Russian resort city of Sochi to study the feasibility of a small modular reactor in Myanmar.

The regime’s Minister for Science and Technology Dr Myo Thein Kyaw (left), junta chief Min Aung Hlaing (center) and Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev in Moscow on July 11, 2022.   / Rosatom

Rosatom made an initial land survey the same year.

Citing a Russian Economic Development Ministry statement, Russia’s state media reported on Friday that Russia and Myanmar’s junta completed the procedure of approval of the intergovernmental agreement on construction of a low-power nuclear plant in Myanmar.

In February 2023, as the regime opened the country’s first nuclear technology information center in Yangon with Rosatom’s help, the two sides signed an agreement on cooperation in nuclear energy.

Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing at the signing ceremony said: “This agreement is for cooperation on a small nuclear power plant and the applications of nuclear technology in multiple sectors.”

Some observers question if the cash-strapped regime can afford to run costly nuclear projects.

Min Aung Hlaing chairs a 15-member committee to implement nuclear projects with defense minister Tin Aung San as vice-chairman and science and technology minister Dr Myo Thein Kyaw as secretary.  The committee is tasked with monitoring and guiding nuclear programs, including budget planning and identifying sources of funding.

The regime says nuclear technology will only be used for peaceful purposes in the agricultural, health, electricity and energy sectors and for socio-economic development.

Source:The Irrawaddy