Russia and the Republic of the Union of Myanmar reached a new level of cooperation in the field of nuclear energy

On June 27-28, 2023, a delegation from ROSATOM, led by Deputy Director General Nikolay Spassky, embarked on a working visit to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.

The primary objective of this trip was to evaluate the initial outcomes of the collaborative efforts between the two nations in the realm of peaceful nuclear energy utilization and other associated high-tech domains. These agreements were established in February 2023 during discussions between the Director General of ROSATOM, Alexey Likhachev, and the Prime Minister of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Min Aung Hlaing.

During the visit, Nikolay Spassky and Deputy Minister for Science and Technology of Myanmar Aung Zeya held the first meeting of the joint coordinating committee. This committee was formed following the Intergovernmental Agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, focusing on cooperation in the peaceful use of atomic energy, which was signed on February 6, 2023.  During the meeting, Russian and Myanmar experts discussed such vital areas of bilateral cooperation as forming a regulatory framework, developing nuclear infrastructure, educating and training personnel, working with the public in Myanmar, and others. Following the meeting, a protocol was signed.

Additionally, Nikolay Spassky met with two key officials during his visit: Myo Thein Kyaw, the Minister for Science and Technology of Myanmar, and Taung Khan, the Minister for Electrification of Myanmar. These meetings delved into the vital areas of collaboration within their respective ministries, focusing on the construction of power units based on Russian designs and the development of nuclear infrastructure in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar in alignment with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) guidelines.

The Russian delegation took part in the opening of the Science Festival, jointly organized by ROSATOM and the Ministry of Science and Technology of Myanmar, which takes place simultaneously at two venues – at the Nuclear Technology Information Center, opened in February 2023, and at the Yangon Technological University.

There is a common understanding of the demand for cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy for both states and the desire to translate this joint work into practice quickly. 

Expert consultations in the main areas will continue per the agreed schedules.