Cooperation. Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom, had meetings with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, Serbian Prime Minister Miloš Vučević, and Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin in Belgrade. The parties discussed expanding their cooperation in nuclear power technology and applications, hiring Serbian companies for Rosatom’s projects in third countries, training Serbian students in nuclear professions at Russian universities, and a possibility for Rosatom to participate in high-tech projects implemented in Serbia.

Training. A group of specialists from Belarus completed the first training course on radioactive waste disposal facilities (RWDF), one of which is planned to be built in the country for the safe isolation of waste coming from the Belarusian NPP. Organized by Rosatom, the course focused on the RWDF life cycle theory to provide attendees with the knowledge necessary to effectively manage RWDF engineering, construction, and operation processes. The Belarusian specialists also visited Rosatom’s sites to see advanced RWDFs in operation.

Additive tech. Rosatom’s Electric Power Division set up a laboratory for 3D nuclear equipment modeling. Five sections of the laboratory, including 3D pre-print, 3D printing, polishing, assembly, and painting, ensure end-to-end production of equipment models. Three-dimensional 1:10 scale models of key nuclear plant components will be used in nuclear staff training centers and for public education purposes. It is planned to make up to 13 models by the end of the year. These will comprise exact copies of a VVER-1200 reactor, a pressurizer, a primary coolant pump, and other pieces of equipment.

R&D. Rosatom researchers have developed a laboratory prototype for a plasma propulsion engine. It uses a magnetic plasma accelerator with improved parameters of thrust and specific impulse (min. 100 km/s). When operating in a pulse mode, the engine is capable of generating up to 300 kW of power. Such engines can accelerate a spacecraft in outer space to a speed that is unreachable by chemical engines, and also reduce the need for fuel by dozens of times. To compare, the flight to Mars would take almost a year one way with conventional engines, while a plasma engine could reduce the mission time to 30–60 days. A huge experimental stand is being installed at a research institute in Troitsk, Russia to test the plasma engine prototype and similar devices.

Construction sites. Rosatom’s mechanical engineering subsidiaries have shipped equipment for two Russian-designed nuclear power plants being built in China. A set of four primary coolant pump casings will be delivered to Xudabao Unit 4, and four pump units to Tianwan Unit 7. The equipment is intended to ensure coolant circulation in the primary circuit and will be installed at the nuclear islands of the power stations. The Tianwan NPP is the largest Russia-China economic cooperation project, with two Russian-designed power units with VVER-1200 reactors currently under construction. Another four earlier built power units with Russian VVER-1000 reactors have long been in operation, supplying millions of kilowatts of electricity to the country’s power grid. The Xudabao NPP is a relatively new project of Russia-China cooperation in the field of nuclear energy. It was 2019 when the parties signed a general construction contract and a nuclear fuel supply contract for Xudabao Units 3 and 4 with VVER-1200 reactors.

Cooperation. Russia and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) held another round of consultations in Moscow. The talks were focused on safety of the Zaporozhye (Zaporizhzhia) NPP and other Russian nuclear power plants. Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev, who headed the Russian delegation, described the measures Russia was taking to ensure safety of the Zaporozhye NPP and its host town of Energodar. He emphasized the importance of joint work with the IAEA. Rafael Grossi, in his turn, spoke about the IAEA Secretariat’s work at the site of the Zaporozhye NPP, and his recent visit to Ukraine. The parties also discussed IAEA expert rotations at the Zaporozhye plant. Other matters of cooperation between Russia and the IAEA were also on the table. Both parties confirmed their agreement to continue regular contacts.

Construction sites. Commissioning of the key equipment began at the coastal pump station of Turkey’s Akkuyu Unit 1. Cooling water pumps and backup diesel generator pumps are undergoing a series of individual hot tests. “Construction and installation works at the pump station are nearing completion and we are proceeding with the start of commissioning operations on the key equipment. The pumps installed at the coastal pump station are the largest at the nuclear power plant. They will supply water for every cooling system of the power unit, so the reliable operation of these pumps is crucial for the proper functioning of the core equipment, including the reactor and the turbine,” Akkuyu Nuclear CEO Sergey Butskikh said.

Electric mobility. Rosatom’s Electric Power Division put into operation the first nine electric charging stations (ECS) with a total capacity of 150 kW in the Stavropol Krai. Cars can be charged at them using the AtomEnergo mobile app. These ECSs support every existing type of fast charging connectors. In total, Rosatom has launched more than 160 fast charging stations in 13 Russian regions, with their number to increase to 255 in the first quarter of 2025. By 2030, Rosatom plans to build a network that will account for at least 25% of the electric charging market in Russia. The electricity consumed at the charging stations is covered by the Clean Energy Rosatom certificate, which guarantees that AtomEnergo ECS customers use ‘green’ low-carbon electricity from nuclear power plants.

Environment. Rosatom has made a legacy waste management proposal for a former industrial site in Kyrgyzstan. The analytical report prepared by Rosatom was approved at a cross-department meeting held in the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek. The document contains a set of top-priority emergency response measures to render environmentally safe the site of the shut-down Kristall plant. The plant was built in 1989 and specialized in the production of polycrystalline silicon. The report includes the results of the technical site audit conducted by Rosatom experts, comprising the description of identified hazardous chemicals and their locations, assessment of the actual condition of process tanks, buildings and structures, probability calculations for adverse events, and models of their scale and consequences. The extensive experience gained from legacy management projects in Russia makes Rosatom a reliable partner for international customers.