Statement by the Delegation of the Russian Federation at the Third Session of the Preparatory Committee for the 11th Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (Cluster III: Peaceful uses of nuclear energy), New York, 6 May 2025
Mr. Chair,
Russia has consistently stood for the NPT States parties’ broad access to the benefits of peaceful uses of nuclear energy and the development of international cooperation in this area.
Our country is among the leaders of the world nuclear energy market. A total of 42 nuclear power reactors with a total installed capacity of 34.6 GW are in operation at 12 Russian NPPs, including the world's only floating power unit of the Akademik Lomonosov nuclear thermal power plant; this accounts for 17.8 per cent of the total energy generated in the country (and up to 40 percent of energy generated in certain regions).
Yet we intend to do more. This year the reactor of the Kursk-2 nuclear power plant's unit 1 is to be started in the minimum-power mode. We are also about to commence work on Smolensk-2 NPP support infrastructure. At Leningrad-2 NPP, the foundation of unit 3 has been laid.
Russia has been successfully developing the project of construction of a Generation IV energy complex with a 300 MW BREST fast-neutron reactor and on-site nuclear fuel cycle facilities. In December 2024, a facility for fabrication and refabrication of unique mixed fuel for it went into pilot commercial operation. This has become a truly landmark event in the implementation of the project of the world's first Generation IV power plant allowing re-use of spent nuclear fuel. This approach will considerably expand the resource base of the nuclear energy, make it more environmentally friendly and offer solution for the issue of radioactive waste management.
Russia continues to work on the development of a closed nuclear fuel cycle (NFC). We are convinced that it is closed NFC that will become one of the drivers of further development of nuclear energy.
At the moment, Russia is operating two fast-neutron reactors. The BN-800 reactor of the Beloyarsk NPP has completely switched to MoX fuel. By 2035, the construction of a BN-1200M power unit is to be concluded at this power plant. At the MBIR site in Dimitrovgrad, a model of the BN-1200M reactor core has been physically launched.
Russia has made considerable progress in the development of small modular reactors.
In addition to the Akademik Lomonosov floating nuclear thermal power plant, we are building a fleet of four upgraded 106 MW floating power units each having a RITM-200S reactor.
Alongside with that, we continue to develop land-based small-scale energy projects. The work on a RITM reactor-based small nuclear power plant is underway in Yakutia.
Besides, we are developing a line of nuclear micro-reactors. By 2030, a 10 MW Shelf-M reactor is to be put in operation. It has capsule design and can be shipped anywhere to be subsequently connected to the local power grid.
Russia has been actively exploring and developing the Northern Sea Route, a promising transportation artery linking Europe, Russia and the Asia-Pacific region. It has been 67 years since the first nuclear-powered icebreaker Lenin was launched. Over these years, we have put in operation eleven more nuclear-powered icebreakers and a nuclear-powered LASH Carrier “Sevmorput”. We continue building and operating new-generation nuclear-powered icebreakers and remain the only country in the world possessing a fleet of nuclear-powered icebreakers.
Mr. Chair,
Russia continues to promote the development of nuclear energy. To date, 110 Russian-designed NPP units have been built worldwide.
We are currently building 22 power units in seven countries (Bangladesh, Hungary, Egypt, India, Iran, China and Türkiye). The portfolio of our foreign projects totals 33 power units of high-capacity nuclear power plants in ten countries and six power units of small-capacity NPPs using RITM reactors in Uzbekistan.
Russia continues to implement the package of strategic cooperation with China. In late 2024, it delivered the final batch of equipment for the Demonstration Fast Reactor (CDFR). The countries are also working together on the construction of Tianwan NPP units 7 and 8 and Xudapu NPP units 3 and 4.
Last year, a nuclear energy business platform was established on the margins of BRICS in order to join efforts of the leading nuclear companies of the BRICS countries to develop and deploy nuclear energy and non-energy technologies.
Mr. Chair,
Russia's priorities include scientific research into and development of radiation technologies and peaceful uses of nuclear energy in medicine, agriculture, industry and other key economic sectors.
In the field of nuclear medicine, Russia produces over 70 per cent of the world's range of medical isotopes. The construction of Europe's largest radiopharmaceuticals plant is underway in Obninsk. We are working on a BRICS nuclear medicine cooperation platform.
Russia attaches special importance to cooperation with the IAEA. We provide continuous political, financial and expert support to the Agency's activities. Russia is the initiator and a donor of the IAEA International Project on Innovative Reactors and Fuel Cycles. Today, 46 countries have joined this project.
We attach great importance to training high-qualification nuclear professionals and personnel training.
Russia has established Obninsk global centre for international nuclear training, where up to 10,000 people can gather for scientific, educational and youth events. Rosatom's Technical Academy has trained over 2,500 professionals from 95 countries. In addition, we have trained over 5,000 members of operational staff for the nuclear power plants that our country is building abroad.
Mr. Chair,
All NPT-compliant countries should have unrestricted access to peaceful atom.
Each State party to the Treaty has a right to freely pursue an independent national nuclear energy policy and to engage in cooperation in this area without any discrimination. Imposing unilateral restrictions, inventing barriers for bilateral and multilateral cooperation, as well as undermining the principle of equal access to nuclear materials, equipment and technical information to be used for peaceful purposes violate Article IV of the NPT. Politicization and artificial dividing lines in this sphere are unacceptable.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.