Russian state nuclear energy corporation Rosatom announced that site construction for a small modular nuclear power plant in Myanmar will begin next year, marking a major expansion of energy ties between Moscow and the military regime in Naypyidaw.
Speaking in Moscow, Rosatom Director-General Alexey Likhachev confirmed that the corporation expects to sign a preliminary engineering survey contract before the end of the year.
Reactor design and phased expansion
- Initial Capacity: The plant’s first phase will utilize two 55-megawatt (MW) land-based reactors delivering an initial 110 MW of electrical output.
- Scalable Output: The facility is engineered for gradual expansion up to 330 MW to support long-term regional grid requirements.
- Bilateral Integration: Russian officials emphasized that the project will drive joint scientific research, workforce training, and educational exchanges between Russian technical universities and Myanmar institutions.
Site selection and seismic resilience
While official coordinates remain undisclosed by regime media in Naypyidaw, previous Rosatom site evaluations and geological surveys focused on locations surrounding the capital:
- Survey Coordinates: Joint Rosatom-Myanmar delegations previously inspected rock patterns and geological formations near Paunglaung Dam in Zeyathiri Township, located 31 miles (49 km) east of Naypyidaw.
- Seismic Standards: Rosatom affirmed that the March 2025 earthquake near Naypyidaw will not alter construction timelines, maintaining that SMR engineering strictly adheres to international safety and seismic resistance criteria.
- Historical Precedent: The agreement fulfills nuclear ambitions originating as early as 2000 under previous military rule, building upon intergovernmental framework deals signed between the two nations in 2023 and 2025.
