Russia has given the green light for the establishment of a nuclear power facility in Myanmar, as detailed by Nuclear Engineering International magazine based in the UK.

The publication outlined that Moscow has endorsed the development of a low-capacity nuclear plant. A proposal submitted by Russia’s State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom) envisions the construction of a plant capable of producing a minimum of 110 megawatts using Russian pressurized water reactors. This information was disclosed on Monday.

The initiative stemmed from a memorandum of understanding inked between Moscow and Myanmar's government during the Atom Expo in 2022, held in Sochi, Russia. The memorandum aimed to explore the feasibility of installing a small modular reactor in Myanmar. Subsequently, Rosatom conducted an initial land survey in the same year.

According to reports from Russia’s state media on Friday, the approval process for an intergovernmental agreement concerning the construction of a low-capacity nuclear plant in Myanmar has been finalized by both Russia and the junta in Myanmar.

In February 2023, as Myanmar's regime inaugurated its inaugural nuclear technology information center in Yangon with assistance from Rosatom, bilateral agreements on nuclear energy cooperation were signed between the two parties.

During the signing ceremony, junta chief Min Aung Hlaing remarked, “This agreement signifies collaboration in establishing a small nuclear power plant and utilizing nuclear technology across various sectors.”

However, some analysts are skeptical about the financial viability of nuclear endeavors for the financially strained regime. To oversee nuclear projects, a 15-member committee has been established, chaired by Min Aung Hlaing, with Defense Minister Tin Aung San serving as vice-chairman and Science and Technology Minister Dr. Myo Thein Kyaw as secretary. The committee's responsibilities include project supervision, budgeting, and sourcing funding.

The regime has emphasized that nuclear technology will be exclusively utilized for peaceful purposes, including agriculture, healthcare, electricity generation, and socio-economic development.

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