Russia and Laos plan nuclear cooperation

Friday, 15 April 2016

A memorandum of cooperation in the field of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes has been signed by Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom and the ministry of energy and mines of Laos.

The signing of the memorandum of cooperation (Image: Rosatom)

The memorandum was signed in Moscow yesterday by Rosatom deputy director general Kirill Komarov and Laos' deputy energy minister Sinava Souphanouvong. The signing was witnessed by Rosatom director general Sergey Kirienko and deputy prime minister of Laos, Somsavat Lengsavad.

In the framework of the memorandum, Rosatom and Laos plan to cooperate in the design, construction and operation of nuclear power plants and research reactors. They also plan to cooperate in basic and applied research; nuclear and radiation safety; research and development in the field of nuclear medicine technology; and in education and training.

The memorandum provides for the setting up of a joint working group to identify specific projects aimed at developing cooperation between Rosatom and Laos.

Rosatom said the two parties plan to develop and prepare for the signing of an intergovernmental agreement on nuclear energy cooperation.

In August 2015, it was reported that Rosatom and Laos were in negotiations to set up the Southeast Asian country's first nuclear power plant. The talks concerned Russia building two 1000 MWe nuclear power reactors in Laos on a build-operate-transfer basis.

Researched and written
by World Nuclear News