Russia plans to begin mass production of small nuclear power plants (NPPs), President Vladimir Putin said on November 19.
“We plan to transition to serial production of small, land-based nuclear power plants, and we will also continue building units at major existing NPPs,” Putin stated at the AI Journey conference (“Journey into the World of Artificial Intelligence”).
The president emphasized that the development of energy infrastructure is a strategic asset and a competitive advantage for Russia. He noted that powerful and stable energy sources are needed to support data centers essential for advancing artificial intelligence.
According to Putin, Russia intends to build 38 new nuclear power units within the next 20 years, mainly in the Urals, Siberia, and the Far East. Their combined capacity will be comparable to the country’s entire current nuclear generation.
Putin added that Russia is ready to offer its integrated nuclear energy solutions to foreign partners.
On September 25, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said that many countries would like to cooperate with Rosatom, Russia’s state nuclear corporation. He also noted that discussions with the Russian side on nuclear safety and non-proliferation are especially important, adding that being in Moscow is a great pleasure for him.
On October 16, Putin stated that Russia is the only country with full-cycle competencies across the entire nuclear energy chain. He said that 110 power units of Russian design have already been built worldwide. He emphasized that when constructing energy facilities abroad, Russia helps partner countries develop strong national human resources, as well as scientific and technological capacities. Based on this approach, Russia is currently building NPPs in Egypt, Bangladesh, and Turkey.
