Rosatom and Myanmar’s Ministry of Science & Technology have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on nuclear infrastructure assessment and enhancement. The MOU was signed by Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev and Myanmar Minister for Science & Technology Dr Myo Thein Kyaw, Union of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar on the sidelines of the Russian Energy Week

Under the MOU, current needs for the development of nuclear infrastructure in Myanmar would be assessed and a work plan would be drawn up to identify priority areas important for implementation of a low-power NPP (ASMM) construction project. The development of nuclear infrastructure will be carried out in accordance with International Atomic Energy Agency approaches and recommendations and in line with Rosatom’s best practices.

In addition, Russian-Myanmar cooperation in the field of training and human resources development would be increased and safety culture in the organisations participating in Myanmar’s nuclear energy development programme would be strengthened.

According to BNN, memoranda of understanding were also signed between Russia’s National Research Nuclear University MEPhi and several Myanmar institutions including Yangon Technological University, Yangon University of Information Technology, and Kyaukse Technological University.

In February, Russia and Myanmar signed an Intergovernmental Agreement on cooperation in the field of the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. The agreement covered 14 areas of nuclear technology development including the construction of NPPs, and the use of nuclear technology in health, agriculture, and industrial manufacturing. It also included cooperation on nuclear disaster safety, security and emergency response. The two sides agreed to work together to implement a project for a ASMM in Myanmar.

In July a Rosatom delegation, led by Deputy Director General Nikolay Spassky paid a follow-up visit to Myanmar. This included the first meeting of the joint coordinating committee established in accordance with the February agreement.

Co-operation has been growing since 2021, including the launch of Myanmar’s first nuclear information centre based in Yangon. In 2022, Rosatom and Myanmar’s Ministry of Science & Technology and Ministry of Electrification signed a Roadmap on cooperation in the field of the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes for 2022-2023 on the sidelines of the VII Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok.

Image courtesy of Rosatom