Nuclear power plants. An intergovernmental agreement on the construction of the Balkhash Nuclear Power Plant in Kazakhstan was signed during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s state visit to the country. The document defines the scope of the plant’s construction project, which involves building two Russian-designed power units with VVER-1200 reactors in accordance with Russian best practices. The agreement covers key areas of cooperation throughout the nuclear plant’s service life, including maintenance services and fuel supplies. “We highly value our long-standing partnership with Kazakhstan and are convinced that Russian nuclear technologies will lay a strong foundation for the country’s energy independence and sustainable development. Today, our collaboration is scaling to new heights, unlocking new opportunities for economic and technological growth,” said Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev.

Safety. Rosatom has successfully completed the nine-year remediation of five uranium legacy sites in Kyrgyzstan. More than 27 hectares of land were remediated, with over 1.4 million cubic meters of uranium tailings transported from the dumps. The remediation effort fully complied with international standards and IAEA safety norms and followed Russian best practices. “Behind this result lies the serious, multi-year effort of our engineers and workers. Thanks to this effort, the legacy sites in the villages of Min-Kush (Naryn Region) and Kadji-Sai (Issyk-Kul Region) have been rendered radiation-safe. The health and well-being of the people is our top priority,” Rosatom chief Alexey Likhachev noted.

Innovations. Rosatom presented its broad portfolio of Russian nuclear plant designs and its capabilities in implementing nuclear generation projects at the Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit Africa (NEISA) 2026. First and foremost, this concerns proven small modular reactor (SMR) technologies, including land-based plants and floating power units, which are both optimal solutions for remote regions of African countries. “Having launched the world’s first floating nuclear power plant and concluded the first export SMR project, Rosatom possesses unparalleled practical experience in this segment, and it is precisely our proven technologies that are generating increasing interest among our African partners,” said Ryan Collyer, CEO of Rosatom Central and Southern Africa. At the summit, Rosatom also demonstrated its expertise in delivering major nuclear projects, including those in Africa.