News
05.11.2024
Fuel. Rosatom has manufactured an initial load of nuclear fuel for the BRR-1 research reactor under construction in Bolivia. The first batch of fuel assemblies is scheduled to be delivered to the country in 2025. Bolivia’s first research reactor will be a centerpiece of the national Nuclear Research and Technology Center (NRTC), which Rosatom is building in El Alto at an altitude of 4,000 meters above sea level. The reactor pressure vessel was delivered from Russia and put in place in 2023. BRR-1 is a water-cooled water-moderated pool-type research reactor with a design service life of 50 years. Bolivia is the first South American country to receive Russian-made nuclear fuel. The NRTC includes a reactor for the fabrication of radioisotopes and neutron activation analysis, a pre-clinical cyclotron facility for the production of radiopharmaceuticals, a multi-purpose irradiation center for the treatment of agricultural products and sterilization of medical devices, and a radiobiology and radioecology laboratory.
SMRs. Rosatom took part in the first IAEA International Conference on Small Modular Reactors and Their Applications held in Vienna. Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev spoke about the advantages of onshore and offshore small modular reactor (SMR) nuclear power plants as sources of electricity for remote communities and isolated industrial sites, and touched upon small-scale generation solutions offered by Rosatom. The Russian nuclear corporation is currently working on the project to build an onshore SMR plant in Yakutia. In May 2024, Rosatom signed the first export contract for the construction of a Russian-designed SMR plant in Uzbekistan. Rosatom representatives also spoke about the experience in engineering onshore and offshore SMR nuclear power plants, and developing nuclear infrastructure based on different project delivery models. Additionally, Rosatom’s Technical Academy and the IAEA agreed on the margins of the conference to expand cooperation in knowledge management and human resource development.
Uranium. Rosatom presented advanced energy solutions at a nuclear science and technology conference in Namibia. During the three-day event, multi-national representatives from government, business and industry discussed options to promote nuclear industry in Namibia and other African countries. The conference participants noted the importance of efficient uranium mining for the continent’s economic development. The management of Headspring Investments (Rosatom’s subsidiary operating a uranium project in Namibia) spoke about using the in-situ leaching process in uranium mining. “Nuclear can lay a solid foundation for a sustainable energy industry in African countries. Rosatom has developed a wide range of solutions to achieve this goal. Large and small nuclear power plants can be reliable sources of power,” commented Ryan Collier, CEO at Rosatom Central and Southern Africa.
