Negotiations. In late July, Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev held a series of high-level strategic meetings with partners from Türkiye, China, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.

In Türkiye, discussions focused on the upcoming startup of Akkuyu Unit 1. Both parties are working to enhance project efficiency; notably, the Turkish Parliament has recently approved tax incentives for the national nuclear industry.

In China, startup operations are expected to begin within the coming weeks at Tianwan Unit 7 and Xudabao Unit 3. Furthermore, Russia and China are expanding cooperation in Generation IV nuclear energy systems and the Northern Sea Route (NSR). In 2026, the number of voyages by Chinese commercial vessels along the NSR is projected to increase by 30% compared to 2025.

During a meeting between the presidents of Kazakhstan and Russia in Omsk, agreements were signed regarding the construction terms for the Balkhash Nuclear Power Plant and the provision of a Russian export credit for the project. The active construction phase is scheduled to commence in 2027.

In Uzbekistan, a dedicated working group has been established to conduct an expert review of the documentation for the proposed nuclear power plant in the Jizzakh region.

Environment. Rosatom, in partnership with the Lomonosov Moscow State University Marine Research Center, is launching the fifth season of comprehensive environmental monitoring in the Northern Sea Route (NSR) maritime area.

For the first time, the research program will encompass the entire NSR—stretching from the Kara Sea to the Chukchi Sea—including the port areas of Sabetta, Dudinka, Tiksi, and Pevek. Three research teams will carry out fieldwork across 53 monitoring stations. Scientists will synthesize data collected throughout the project’s duration (2021–2026) to assess the impact of growing cargo traffic on marine ecosystems. Previous findings have confirmed that current shipping intensity has no adverse effect on the environment.

Major Russian Arctic project operators are also joining the initiative. The program involves over 130 experts from 29 organizations across Russia, China, India, and other countries. As the infrastructure operator of the NSR, Rosatom ensures the sustainable development of the maritime corridor while adhering to the highest environmental protection standards.

Science. Scientists from Rosatom’s Quantum Project have demonstrated for the first time that the collective behavior of electrons in ultrathin materials can be observed using light. A scientific paper detailing the work by researchers from the Rosatom Quantum Center, ITMO University, and the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT) has been published in the prestigious journal Physical Review B.

This result is significant for a key area of modern physics and quantum technology: the study of complex materials where particles behave as a single system. Collective effects underpin many promising phenomena, including superconductivity, exotic magnetism, and novel electronic states. Understanding these processes is essential for developing future materials, quantum devices, and more efficient electronics.

“We have shown for the first time that the complex electronic state in a monolayer of tungsten diselenide can be observed directly through light,” noted Alexander Chernov, one of the authors and head of the research group at the Quantum Center and MIPT.