During the visit of the Myanmar Prime Minister Min Aung Hline to Russia, an intergovernmental agreement was signed on the principles of cooperation in the construction of a ground-based low-power nuclear power plant (ASMM – Atomnoi Stantsii Maloi Moshnosti) in Myanmar. This was one of 10 agreements and memoranda of understanding (MOUs) between their respective governments. These included agreements on joint geological exploration, mining cooperation, peaceful space exploration, increased investment protection, mutual recognition of academic degrees and qualifications, customs cooperation, healthcare collaboration, cultural and sports partnerships.
“The signed intergovernmental agreement on the construction of a low-power NPP opens the way for the economy of Myanmar to provide cheap and environmentally friendly energy,” said Russian President Vladimir Putin. “This will be a good incentive for further economic growth, the creation of thousands of jobs and the emergence of highly qualified national personnel.”
The document was signed in the presence of the President Putin and Myanmar Prime Minister Min Aung Hlaing, by Rosatom Director General Alexei Likhachev and Myanmar’s Union Minister of Science & Technology Dr Myo Thein Kyaw. The agreement regulates the conditions and main directions of interaction between the parties within the framework of the ASMM project with a capacity of 110 MWe, with the possibility of further expansion to 330 MWe. This follows an intergovernmental agreement between Myanmar and Russia in February 2023.
In addition to the inter-governmental agreement, a key MOU was signed with Russian Federal Service for Ecological, Technological & Nuclear Supervision (Rostekhnadzor) and Myanmar’s Ministry of Science & Technology on nuclear safety regulations and radiation protection in the peaceful use of atomic energy. The document was signed by the head of Rostekhnadzor, Alexander Trembitsky, and Myanmar Minister of Science & Technology Myo Thein Kyaw.
The memorandum defines the main areas of cooperation between regulatory authorities of Russia and Myanmar, such as the development of a regulatory framework in the field of nuclear, radiation and nuclear safety, licensing of activities in the field of peaceful uses of atomic energy, and monitoring activities.
Co-operation between Myanmar and Russia 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.
Myanmar, a founding member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), signed a country programme framework with the IAEA in 2016 and also joined the Convention on Nuclear Safety. It signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1992. Myanmar currently produces 24.3 TWh of energy including 13.7 TWh from fossil fuels and 10.5 TWh from hydro while Rosatom is also developing a 200 MW wind power plant.
Russia operates the world’s only operating floating NPP, Akademik Lomonosov, which began commercial operation in 2020. This laid the foundation for the development of hard-to-reach and isolated territories using ASMMs. Rosatom is also implementing projects for a new floating NPP based on 4 units on Chukotka at Cape Nagleynyn, as well as a ground-based ASMM with the latest RITM-200 reactor in Yakutia. In 2024 Uzbekistan signed a contract for a six-unit ASMM plant, featuring six 55 MW RITM-200N reactors adapted from the RITM-200. Rosatom is also expected to sig an agreement this year to construct a ASMM in Mongolia.
