Rio de Janeiro hosted NT2E 2025, the largest nuclear energy forum in Latin America. It brought together more than 2,700 participants representing government, business, and science. With Rosatom as a general sponsor, this year’s NT2E ensured broad participation from Russian companies in the event’s program.
At its exhibition booth, Rosatom showcased solutions tailored to Brazil’s needs. Among them were small modular reactors (SMRs) designed to enhance grid stability and supply power to remote regions, spent fuel management solutions, and nuclear medicine technologies.
Ivan Dybov, Director of Rosatom America Latina, said at the opening ceremony: “For Rosatom, developing relations with Brazilian partners in peaceful uses of nuclear energy is a strategic priority. We are ready to expand cooperation by offering reliable technologies backed by the 80-year history of Russia’s nuclear industry.”
At the session titled “Attracting a New Generation: The Future of Nuclear Industry,” Elena Vesna, Vice-Rector of Moscow’s National Nuclear Research University MEPhI, presented the university’s experience as a global leader in training professionals for the nuclear sector. International collaboration and academic exchange are essential for training professionals who will shape the future of the nuclear industry, she emphasized.
As part of cooperation with Brazil, MEPhI signed an updated agreement with Brazil’s Institute for Energy and Nuclear Research (Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares, IPEN) in 2024, with plans to launch a joint ‘1+1’ master’s program in nuclear engineering in 2025. Currently, 48 Latin American students from Bolivia, Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Cuba, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Chile, and Ecuador are enrolled at MEPhI.
The “Global Small Modular Reactor Projects” discussion featured Ruan Souza of Rosatom America Latina who spoke about the potential applications of SMR technology in Brazil: “This is not a concept for the distant future — it is a practical solution for improving energy access, decarbonization, and development of remote territories. SMRs provide clean energy at predictable prices, are easily scalable, and are suitable for isolated regions, doing no harm to the climate while offering potential integration with data centers and local industries.” He also described SMRs as highly promising tools for replacing coal-fired generation, especially given Brazil’s continued reliance on hydroelectric power and vulnerability to droughts.
Uranium mining and processing was discussed at the session titled “Uranium Mining Market in Brazil and Worldwide.” Alexander Boytsov, Advisor to the First Deputy CEO of TENEX (a Rosatom subsidiary), highlighted the importance of international cooperation and Russia’s competitive advantages in this field.
Experts paid much attention to the efficient management of spent nuclear fuel and its byproducts. Rosatom offers its foreign partners a comprehensive solution for managing the back end of the nuclear fuel cycle. Its approach prevents moving the burden of radioactive waste management to future generations and is based on closing the nuclear fuel cycle.
“Innovative solutions under the umbrella of the Balanced Nuclear Fuel Cycle concept allow for generating stable and clean electricity with minimal waste, ensuring its safe and reliable isolation. Our technologies enable us to return up to 97% of spent nuclear fuel components back into the fuel cycle, making the consumption of natural resources truly responsible,” explained Mikhail Baryshnikov, Director of the Innovations and Technology Department at TENEX.
Gonçalo Castillo, Business Development Manager at Rosatom America Latina, added: “Rosatom has gained unparalleled experience in managing radioactive waste and rehabilitating areas affected by radiation. We are ready to offer Brazil not only technologies but also a step-by-step methodology for implementing such projects — from regulatory frameworks to facility commissioning. We transform post-industrial zones into safe locations for new environmentally friendly initiatives.”
The forum featured a session dedicated to the BRICS Platform, a global independent initiative aimed at promoting nuclear energy as a tool for energy transition, technological sovereignty, and sustainable development. The key topic discussed was the development of financial instruments to implement nuclear projects in the BRICS countries and partner nations.
The session was attended by representatives of financial institutions, government agencies, and companies from BRICS and partner countries.
Stanislav Shpakovsky from Rosatom emphasized in his speech: “We expect growing interest in nuclear projects from the financial sector. Nuclear energy must be fully integrated into the global sustainable investment agenda as a reliable carbon-free source of energy. It is a tool capable of simultaneously supporting sustainable growth, promoting energy security, and achieving climate goals.”
Photo by: Rosatom State Corporation, ABDAN, NT2E
