18 May (NucNet): Russia says it has signed an intergovernmental cooperation agreement to establish a centre for nuclear studies including a research reactor in Myanmar, formerly Burma.
Russia’s Federal Atomic Energy Agency (Rosatom) said in a statement on 15 May 2007 that the research reactor will be a 10-megawatt light water reactor unit working on 20 percent-enriched uranium-235.
The research centre will also include a medical isotope production laboratory, a silicon doping system, and radioactive waste management and disposal facilities.
Rosatom did not say when it expected work to start on the proposed centre, but said all facilities would be monitored by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Rosatom press secretary Sergei Novikov said because Myanmar has signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty and is an IAEA member state, there is “no legal reason to refuse assisting this country in constructing a research reactor, which would be mainly used for the production of medical isotopes”.
Rosatom emphasised that reactor equipment to be supplied to Myanmar cannot be converted to military applications.
The general contractor will be Russian nuclear vendor Atomstroyexport. NucNet reported earlier this month that Atomstroyexport is aiming for a global portfolio of 13 billion to 15 billion US dollars (9.6 to 11 billion euros) in the next four years, with a network of regional suppliers targeting new business in key nuclear energy markets.
In 2002 what was then Russia’s ministry of atomic energy (Minatom) said it planned to construct a research reactor for Myanmar’s ministry of science and technology, but the project did not proceed.
>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)
Russia Decree Paves Way For New Nuclear Holding Company (World Nuclear Review No. 18, 4 May 2007)
Atomstroyexport Aims For Global Portfolio (World Nuclear Review No. 18, 4 May 2007)
